DIRECTORS from some of Europe's most prestigious music venues gathered at the Elgar Birthplace Museum last week, for one day of their spring conference.

The decision to visit the museum was taken by Andrew Jowett, director of Symphony Hall, Birmingham, whose turn it was to host the spring meeting of the European Concert Halls Organisation.

Delegates from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Greece and America met in the Carice Elgar Room, along with British representatives from Symphony Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Barbican.

They were welcomed by Michael Messenger, chairman of the museum's management committee.

Delegates looked around the cottage where Elgar was born in 1857, the newly developed research room and the Elgar Centre, opened last year to expand the museum's facilities.

"We were delighted the Symphony Hall chose to bring such distinguished guests from the musical world to the Elgar Birthplace Museum and we hope their visit will inspire them to bring more of Elgar's music to an even wider audience through their concert halls," said Mr Messenger.