STIRRING sounds can be heard this weekend as a stunning venue hosts its International Music festival.

A range of evensong performances, masterclasses, recitals and concerts will be held at Milton Abbey this weekend.

The festival includes an eclectic mix of musicians performing at the Milton Abbas building, including visiting professionals, participants of the summer school, staff members and resident artists.

Today at 2pm Close Harmony, participants of Milton Abbey School’s Summer School, are at the New Barn Theatre performing a selection of music. Admission is £5.

At 5.30pm today, choral evensong at the abbey is free. It starts at 5.30pm and will be sung by the Festival Chamber Choir. Admission is free.

At 7.30pm, the Faure Requiem will be sung by the Festival Choral Course at the Abbey. It will include music from Stanford, Parry, Holst and Mendelssohn and is directed by Christopher Gray with Luke Bond directing. Admission is £10.

Tomorrow admission is free to another choral evensong at 5.30pm, which will be performed by VOCES8.

At 7.30pm tomorrow, music lovers can enjoy the Dream of Gerontius by Elgar. The two-part piece relates the journey of a pious man’s soul from his deathbed to his judgment before God and settling into purgatory. It will be performed by the Festival Chorus with a professional orchestra and soloists from the Royal Opera House, conducted by David McKee. Admission is £10.

On Sunday at 10.30am, admission is free to Eucharist in the Abbey at 10.30am. It will be performed by the Festival Chorus and conducted by David McKee.

At 12.30pm there will be a chance to enjoy listening to a selection of work from the week, performed for parents and friends of the participants of the choral course.

For more information and to book tickets, contact the box office on 01258 882322.