OPERA, art and children’s workshops helped Calne Music and Arts Festival get off to a great start.
The annual event began with a preview of the art exhibition at Marden House, attended by invited guests, including town mayor Cllr Robert Merrick, and artists.


And the opening concert was an energetic folk performance from award-winning Kitty Macfarlane.
Festival president Carole Browne is thrilled with how the event has gone so far.
She said: “The first few days have gone extremely well with generally good audience figures, and some events sold out.


“We have had superb lunchtime concerts from both Marlborough College Music Scholars and from St Mary’s.
“We are looking forward to later on today (Thursday) when Kingsbury Green pupils take to the stage.
“Then on Friday lunchtime at Kingsbury Green there will be a huge choir event involving all the local primary schools.”


Last Saturday evening the Opera Anywhere company, from Oxford, performed The Pirates of Penzance to a packed audience.
Children were the focus on Sunday afternoon as youngsters took to Marden House to learn how to build with clay.
Konstantina, of Lemoni Arts, taught the children how to sculpt birds from their pieces of clay as part of the Children’s Workshop.


On Tuesday evening, the Jazz Club night, The Schmoozenbergs performed their smooth melodies to a packed out crowd.
Sales have been steady as 19 paintings from the exhibition have been sold so far.
At the same time, almost 200 people filled the hall of the Kingsbury Green Academy for a recording of BBC Gardeners' Question Time, which will air tomorrow on Radio 4.


The festival comes to an end on Sunday with a final concert from traditional folk duo Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow.