Devizes Festival 2014 will welcome the first orchestra in its programme for many years.

The Orchestra of the Swan, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, has achieved national recognition under the baton of musical director David Curtis.

With soloist Tamsin Waley-Cohen on violin, it will perform Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending and Britten’s Simple Sym-phony.

The Corn Exchange concert on June 17, with its popular programme, is expected to sell out.

The classical music aficionado could be spoiled for choice this year. On Thursday, June 5, the Sacconi Quartet will be at the town hall with a programme including works by Haydn, Paul Patterson and Beethoven.

This year’s organ recital at St John’s Church is by Paul Searle-Barnes, with pieces by composers including Bach, Saint-Saens and Vaughan Williams on Saturday, June 7.

Another soloist is guitarist Eduardo Niebla, at the Corn Exchange on Monday, June 9, with a quartet including two guitars, double bass and drums.

At the Town Hall on Thursday, June 12, there will be an opportunity to hear four harps in concert, with 4 Girls 4 Harps.

On Saturday, June 7, voice will be to the fore with the Bath Camerata at St Mary’s Church.

  • The box office for the general public opened at Devizes Books yesterday and there are still tickets available for most shows in the programme.
    The box office is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm, from Monday to Saturday.
    Telephone bookings can be made
    at (01380) 738686.
    Online booking can be made at
    www.devizesfestival.co.uk
    Tickets are non-refundable but will be accepted back on the basis of resale, if all other tickets have been sold.