A renowned British composer will perform a world premiere at the upcoming Elgar Festival.

Known as one of Britain’s most prominent living composers, Steve Elcock will be the featured Composer for the 2024 edition of the festival.

The festival is set to run from Tuesday, May 27 until Sunday, June 2.

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Elcock will be accompanied by the festival’s director, Kenneth Woods, for an informal chat on Thursday, May 30 at 1.30pm at The Firs, Elgar’s birthplace, in Lower Broadheath, Worcester.

Elcock's works will then be performed at The Guildhall (Friday, May 31 at 7pm), Worcester Cathedral (Saturday, June 1), and The Royal Porcelain Works (Sunday, June 2 at 2pm).

The self-taught composer rose to acclaim when in 2013, Martin Anderson, founder of Toccata Classics and music journalist, proclaimed his Third and Fourth Symphonies as "some of the best orchestral music by a British composer in the last fifty years".

Anderson's praise triggered a successful streak for Elcock, with performances by The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra, and The BBC Philharmonic, among others.

Kenneth Woods, artistic director at the festival said: "It’s a thrill and an honour to be celebrating the master symphonist Steve Elcock at this year’s Elgar Festival.

"He is without a doubt one of our most important and engaging composers and we are delighted to welcome him."

This year’s festival, themed ‘The Origins of Inspiration’, will host a varied selection of orchestral, chamber, vocal, and choral concerts, exhibits and lectures, in different venues across Worcestershire.

It aims to honour the life and music of one of Worcester's favourite sons, Sir Edward Elgar, alongside various contemporary composers and arrangers.

The notable performances include the world premiere of his ‘Concerto Grosso’, and his epic tone poem ‘Wreck’.

The festival, which was launched in 2018 by Worcester City Council, has recognised Elgar's contribution to music and attracted audiences from far and wide.

The festival has been previously highlighted as the ‘Critic’s Pick’ in both The Guardian and The Times.

For more details and booking information on the festival, visit www.elgarfestival.org.