THE eagerly awaited Elgar Festival which celebrates the life and works of Worcestershire's most famous son starts at the end of this month.

Marking the 150th anniversary of Sir Edward Elgar's birth will be a four-day celebration packed with events including full-blown concerts, lunchtime recitals and a spectacular outdoor show and fireworks display.

Elgar was born in Lower Broadheath on June 2, 1857. He learnt to play the violin at a young age and built up a reputation as a great composer whose music is loved by people all over the world.

His Enigma Variations, The Dream of Gerontius and Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 - better known to many as the music of Land Of Hope And Glory - are classics.

Much of Elgar's music was inspired by his surroundings - the rolling Malvern Hills and the fields and lanes of the Worcestershire countryside.

Celebrations will be taking place around the UK, but Worcestershire will be at the heart of anniversary events.

The festival, directed by Dr Donald Hunt, includes a prestigious line-up of concerts featuring the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and a gala concert performance by Julian Lloyd-Webber.

The Malvern-based English Symphony Orchestra will open the festival with a concert at Worcester Cathedral on Wednesday, May 30.

There will also be a reception at Worcester School of Music, lunchtime recitals at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall and at the Elgar Birthplace Museum, organ recitals at Malvern Priory, and evensong and choral concerts at Worcester Cathedral.

For those who, like Elgar, love the great outdoors, there are walks around the Elgar Route taking in places linked to the composer's life.

Events to mark the anniversary continue through the year and on Saturday, July 7, there will be a spectacular charity symphony concert and firework display, raising money for the Prince's Trust, at West Midland Safari Park.

The concert will see the ESO play a tribute finale to Elgar.

Ivan Knezovich, the chairman of tourism body Destination Worcestershire, said he was delighted that so many venues in Elgar's home county had organised events.

"Elgar is arguably England's greatest composer and he is, without a doubt, Worcestershire's most celebrated son so it is appropriate that the county should play a major part in these celebrations," he said.

"It's encouraging to see such a diverse array of events taking place at some of Worcestershire's finest venues and I'm looking forward to listening to some of the tributes to him."

Full details of Elgar Festival can be found at www.elgar-festival.com. For a list of all Elgar anniversary events go to www.visitworcestershire.org or call 01905 728787.

WIN TICKETS TO SEE THE ESO

THE Worcester News has three pairs of VIP tickets to give away to the English Symphony Orchestra's Elgar Festival concert.

The performance, in Worcester Cathedral on Wednesday, May 30, will open the four-day event in style.

Conducted by Dr Vernon Handley CBE, who has recently been appointed the orchestra's principal conductor, the concert will feature Elgar's Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Romance for Bassoon and the Wand of Youth Suite No 1.

There will be a pre-concert talk by Humphrey Burton as well as a VIP reception following the concert in the cathedral's Chapter House.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets, including entry to the VIP reception, answer the following question:

Who will conduct the ESO concert on May 30?

Send answers to Lauren Murray, Worcester News Editorial, Berrows House, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX or e-mail lm@ worcesternews.co.uk by Wednesday, May 23.

To buy tickets, call the Worcester Live box office on 01905 611427.

How the 150th Anniversary is being celebrated

Wednesday, May 30 * English Symphony Orchestra at Worcester Cathedral.

Thursday, May 31 * Chairman's reception (invitation only) * The Elgar Wind Ensemble at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester * Secular and Sacred by the Elgar Chorale at St George's Church, Worcester * Free open evening at the Elgar Birthplace Museum, Lower Broadheath

Friday, June 1 * Organ recital at Malvern Priory, Malvern * Piano recital at the Elgar Birthplace Museum, Lower Broadheath * Illustrated lecture at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester * The Elgar Lecture at the John Moore Theatre, King's School, Worcester * Evensong by St George's Singers of Cape Town, South Africa, at Worcester Cathedral * Royal Philharmonic Orchestra concert at Worcester Cathedral * Young Musicians' Concert at All Saints' Church, Deansway, Worcester.

Saturday, June 2 * The Medici Quartet with Ian Brown at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester * Mayor's reception at Worcester Guildhall, followed by procession to the cathedral * A performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Julian Lloyd Webber on cello at Worcester Cathedral.

Sunday, June 3 * Elgar in the Park with the Lydbrook Band in Priory Park, Malvern.

Tuesday, June 5, to Saturday, June 9 Elgar And Alice at The Swan Theatre, Worcester Thursday, July 7 Symphony Concert with the English Symphony Orchestra at the West Midland Safari Park. In aid of the Prince's Trust.