St Cuthbert's Music Festival starts on Sunday at the church in Wells with a festival eucharist featuring the choirs of St Cuthbert's and St Thomas's churches at 10am.

A festival evensong takes place at 6.30pm with the Beaumont Singers, directed by Peter Kingston.

Lunchtime and evening concerts are taking place each weekday and, on Monday, it is the turn of Clare Deniz on cello and Hisayo Shimizu on piano to perform the lunchtime event at 12.30pm.

In the evening, at 7.30pm, Zum will be playing their gypsy tango music taken from the golden age of the genre.

The group feature Adam Summerhayes on fiddle, Dave Gordon on piano, Jani Pensola on bass, Eddie Hession on accordion and Chris Grist on cello and voice.

On Tuesday, the lunchtime concert is an organ recital from Jonathan Price, starting at noon.

In the evening, cellist Chris Grist will be performing with pianist Warren Mailley-Smith at 7.30pm.

Chris is well known internationally as a recitalist, orchestra musician and as principal cellist with London Concertante.

Warren is a young pianist whose debut recitals in London and Birmingham were well received and he has played for the royal family on several occasions.

Wednesday lunchtime sees the Paradis Piano Trio perform at noon with Laurie Phippard on violin, Cresida Nash on cello and Jacquelyn Bevan on piano.

This will be followed by the market day lunch in the church at 1pm.

In the evening, the In Echo Ensemble will be performing renaissance baroque music from Italy and Spain at 7.30pm.

The programme will include songs and performances on some of the most versatile and expressive instruments of the time.

On Thursday, September 9, Jackie Bevan and Laurie Phippard, on piano and violin respectively, will be performing as the Sunny Skies Jazz Duo, at noon.

The Britannic Ensemble will be performing at 7.30pm.

Formed in 2008, the group consists of some of the most talented young chamber musicians, whose repertoire is wide with an emphasis on British composers.

Charlotte Bettle, on flute, Victoria Small, on oboe and Suzy Ruffles on piano will play music by Arnold, Paul Harris, Hamilton Harty and Rutland Boughton among others.

The final lunchtime concert is on Friday, September 10, at noon when pupils from Wells Cathedral School will perform music from the shows.

In the evening at 7.30pm, there will be more music from the shows in a concert called Sullivan To Sondheim, directed by John Johnson.

Singers will perform everything from Gilbert and Sullivan to Rodgers and Hammerstein with pieces from Chess, Moulin Rouge and Avenue Q and a selection of Sondheim to round the evening off.

On Saturday evening at 7.30pm Croscombe Village Orchestra, directed by Tony Bevan will perform works by Bach, Holst and Last Night of the Proms favourites.

Rounding off the festival on Sunday will be a special eucharist at 10am with the Schubert Mass being sung by the festival choir and a united songs of praise evening at 6.30pm followed by a party in the church.

Entrance to the lunchtime concerts are free, evening concert are £9, accompanied children £1, available from the parish office on 01749 676906, open weekdays 10am to noon.