THE Choir of King's College, Cambridge, is making another of its regular visits to Stratford in July.

The choir's almost annual visits to Stratford have become a tradition and this time, it is raising money for the town's music festival.

For their latest concert, the singers will be performing a programme of works from the English choral tradition, with pieces by Tallis, Byrd, Tavener, Vaughan Williams, Walton and Britten.

They will be conducted by their music director Stephen Cleobury and will be accompanied by two of the college's outstanding organists, Charles Winpenny and Oliver Brett, who will also be performing some solos between the singing.

The King's College statutes of 1453 provided for singing men and 16 choristers 'of sound condition and honest conversation' and there has been an unbroken tradition of music there ever since.

A concert spokesman said: "The choristers' lives still centre on solemn service in the chapel but now also include public concerts like this one and the much-loved Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve."

The choir also makes many recordings for EMI and Decca and tours internationally, with members heading to Germany the day after the Stratford concert.

The Stratford event, in Holy Trinity Church on July 13, is raising money for the Stratford Music Festival which is scheduled for October 14 to 22.

Highlights lined up include The Orchestra of the Swan and The Orchestra of St John's Smith Square, The Paul Robeson Story, Ray Gelato and his band and from Holland viola de gamba player Ralph Meulenbrooks and the Osiris Trio, along with more top performers.

Tickets for the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, are £10 to £20 and are available from the festival office in Warwick (01926 496277) or from the Civic Hall in Stratford. There are also a few £30 tickets which include a champagne and strawberry reception at Hall's Croft, reserved seats and an acknowledgement in the programme.