MUSIC lovers should find a cornucopia of delights if they make a date to visit Cheltenham in July.

People can see the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of world-famous conductor Andre Previn, the distinctive sound of Indonesian Gamelan music or some classic jazz.

All these events and dozens more are featured in the Cheltenham International Festival of Music, which runs from June 30 to July 15.

Undoubtedly the stars of the show this year are the London Symphony Orchestra, who kick off the first full day of the festival on July 1 with a concert at Cheltenham Town Hall.

With soprano Barbara Bonney and violinist Gordan Nikolitch they will be performing works by Walton and Mahler.

Elsewhere another well-known star putting in an appearance is percussionist Evelyn Glennie. She will be appearing with pianist Philip Smith at the Bacon Theatre at Dean Close School on July 2.

The festival's ability to attract big stars and new music are two of the things that makes it special, according to festival administrator Toby Smith. This year there are 30 new works getting their first performance at the festival.

"That's more than we have ever had before," he said. "It is nice to have that and we do try to get the composer to come and talk about the piece before it is performed."

He added: "If you look at the programme, the one thing that makes it stand out is that we do present the traditional classics of the repertoire in the context of today, so that we are introducing new sounds."

Among the new works this year are pieces by composers Robin Holloway and Simon Holt and a tribute to the music of American maverick John Cage.

As for those big names, Mr Smith said: "Because it is so well-established, Cheltenham has big support and a big reputation, so we are able to bring artists in for the Cheltenham Festival period, which we would certainly not be able to attract to Cheltenham at other times.

"They love the audiences and the venues. We try to look after our audiences as best we can and to look after our artists."

As other personal highlights for this year, Mr Smith picked out Portugese pianist Maria Joao Pires, who appears at the Town Hall on July 13, another pianist, Boris Berezovsky, again at the Town Hall on July 10, and the Buskaid Soweto String Project from South Africa. They appear at the Pittville Pump Room on July 15.

That's all the official music. Away from the main venues are a whole host of other musical events on the now well-established Cheltenham Fringe. Numerous workshops, street entertainers and gigs in bars and clubs will ensure that the whole town is alive with the sound of music. Mr Smith said many of these events would allow people to take part and have a go at making music themselves.

The prologue to the festival is on June 30 with a performance of The Lighthouse at the Everyman Theatre and a huge Picnic in the Park at Pittville Park with fireworks and music.

Full information about the festival is available from the festival box office on 01242 227979.