A ROMSEY music festival is set to take place this weekend.

The festival of youth music will be launched on June 22 with a number of choirs, bands and ensembles performing between 11am and 4pm in the Cornmarket.

The festival is set to run for two weeks and will showcase young musicians from across Hampshire and celebrate high quality music making.

The festival will include a string spectacular show, a music in the garden event at Hilliers Arboretum in Ampfield as well as a concert hosted by Mountbatten Music Academy and much more.

Romsey Abbey, Mottisfont Abbey, the Memorial Park and the Lantern Theatre will once again be among the settings for the concerts, as well as local schools and churches

Stu Marchant, the festival’s director of music said: “After months of planning, we are looking forward to the start of the festival.

“This year we have more events and a very wide range of music for people to enjoy.

“ We are very excited that the band of HM Royal Marines are returning to this year’s festival.

“They are running a workshop with students from local schools next Tuesday, June 25 and at the end of the workshop there is a concert performance at 4pm, which the public are welcome to attend.”

The schools’ choir festival, is also now part of the Romsey festival of youth music and it will take place on June 28 in Romsey Abbey.

Eight choirs from local primary and secondary schools from, across Test Valley will be taking part.

The news of the festival comes after Test Valley Borough councillor, Carl Borg-Neal, presented a cheque for £500 on behalf of the council to the directors of, Stu and Miriam Marchant in May.

The festival directors were “delighted” to receive the additional funds.

After receiving the cheque they said: “This will help us with our efforts to put on more workshops and events during the Festival and we are very grateful to Carl for his help in getting the donation.”

Calculis Financial Planners, Crafted Architects, local care home Abbotswood Court, Business 4 Schools and Hampshire Music Service are sponsoring the festival.

Calculis director, Chris Moseley, said: “The events throughout the festival are a fantastic showcase of the talented young people in Romsey and surrounding area.”

Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk or contact contact Stu Marchant on 07759 147487

For more information about the festival programme visit www.rfoym.org.uk.

Deptuy Leader of Test Valley Nick Adams-King said: “The festival is a fantastic example of how Romsey has so much to offer.”