ENGLISH Symphony Orchestra finds itself in the happy position of being ‘Orchestra-in-Residence’ for the new Elgar Festival, taking place this weekend.

The festival, which has the official endorsement of the City of Elgar’s birth, Worcester, is featuring symphonic, chamber and choral concerts, talks and exhibits.

A spokesman said: “Held during the weekend closest to Elgar’s birthdate, June 2, the Festival combines orchestral, chamber, vocal and choral concerts with exhibits and lectures to celebrate the life and music of Sir Edward Elgar at various venues in his hometown of Worcester.

“The Elgar Festival brings together leading local arts and educational organisations with an array of internationally renowned guest artists, placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.”

“Our region has seen many celebrations of Elgar’s legacy over the years, including recent projects such as the 2015 Elgar Pilgrimage organised by the ESO,” says ESO Artistic Director Kenneth Woods.

“However, this new festival marks the first time such an occasion has been organised with the official endorsement of the City of Elgar’s birth, and brings together a consortium of diverse and promising partners and stakeholders including the Elgar Birthplace, the Elgar Society, the City of Worcester, Worcester Live and an array of educational and performing institutions.

“We hope it will become the festival that one of Britain’s greatest composers has always deserved.”

On Saturday June 2, English Symphony Orchestra leader Zoë Beyers and colleague’s violinist Kate Suthers, violist Catherine Marwood and cellist Victoria Simonsen present an afternoon concert of string quartets, featuring Elgar with David Matthews, one of today’s foremost proponents of his forbearer’s music.

Part of the ESO’s year-long ‘David Matthews at 75’ celebrations, the programme includes the world premiere of Matthews’ string quartet arrangement of Elgar’s Sospiri, Matthew’s own String Quartet No. 6, and Elgar’s String Quartet.

David Matthews’ orchestration of Elgar’s String Quartet is at the heart of the Elgar Festival’s Gala Concert, which takes place tomorrow evening (Saturday June 2) at Worcester Cathedral, with Kenneth Woods conducting the English String Orchestra. The programme also includes Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro and Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto featuring soloist Nicholas Daniel. Carrying on the orchestration and arrangement theme, Woods and the ESO will perform Donald Fraser’s Songs for Strings, arrangements of four Elgar songs for string orchestra.

Also on Saturday, David Matthews delivers the bi-annual A. T. Shaw Lecture presented by the Elgar Society and the Elgar Festival. and Elgar, at Worcester’s Swan Theatre.

For more information about the Elgar Festival visit elgarfestival.org