This year’s Festival continues to appeal to a variety of musical interest. On Friday 27th April the programme ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ has been specially devised for Bromsgrove by Gabrielle Byam Grounds. An ensemble of English Serenata with vocalist and narrator offer a variety of music from classical to Swing and Jazz. The music choice of “the upstairs” as opposed to “the downstairs” may surprise. On 9th May the distinguished Chilingirian Quartet return in their 40th anniversary year to give a concert in Grafton Manor Chapel accompanied by the Australian saxophonist Amy Dickson. With recognition of the Diamond Jubilee Sir Roy Strong will give an illustrated lecture on ‘Coronation in the Twentieth Century’ and the final concert with the English Symphony Orchestra and the Elgar Chorale, conducted by Dr Donald Hunt, also acknowledges the Queen’s anniversary. The festival continues to celebrate young talent, not only in this year’s YoungMusicians’ Platform(12th to 15th April) but also with the return of three former finalists, including Alexander Sitkovetsky (2006). The jazz concert involves young musicians in the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra fromthe Birminghamand Paris Conservatoires.