THE Autumn in Malvern Festival will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and organisers are in the mood to celebrate with the arts, including music.

A spokesman said: "The Autumn in Malvern Festival is a renowned series of artistic events and exhibitions held annually in the surroundings of the glorious Malvern Hills.

"Some of the most prestigious musicians, poets, writers, film makers and other artists perform during autumn every year."

This year's, 30th Anniversary Festival, will take place between September 14 and October 31, and there's plenty going on.

Highlights will include a performance in The Great Hall of Malvern College by the European Union Chamber Orchestra, with works by Grieg, Haydn, Finzi and Dvorak on October 20.

Elmslie House in Great Malvern will host a piano recital by the distinguished Russian pianist, Sofya Gulyak, on October 11.

On October 27, the Great Hall of Malvern College will see and hear a performance of Aldwyn Voices with "a sequence of words, choral and instrumental music by Stanford and Elgar".

Elgar will be very much in the spotlight this year, in fact.

On Sunday, September 15, Elmslie House will host a talk by Dr Jerrold Northrop Moore about "A Secret Source for Elgar - The Orchestral Music of Arthur Sullivan".

The spokesman added: "In 1984, the distinguished American scholar, Dr Northop Moore published Edward Elgar: A creative Life, widely regarded as the definitive biography of the composer.

"His continuing research informs a new book he is writing on Elgar including recently discovered material for the talk."

Tickets from Malvern Theatres at: 01684 892277.