THANKS to conductor Paul Payton, Bolton will play its part in the 75th birthday celebrations for composer Sir Malcolm Arnold.

Arnold has composed a wide range of music for orchestral and ensemble playing, plus film music and pieces for choirs and soloists.

Paul, charismatic conductor of Bolton Symphony Orchestra, Bolton Youth Orchestra and musical director of Opera 74, has masterminded five concerts from June 18 to 23. On June 18 at St Paul's Church, Corus Brass will entertain with a programme featuring Arnold's Brass Symphony. Advance booking is recommended for Thursday, June 20, when children from the Music Centre and local primary schools get together for an evening called Festival Fantasia.

The parish church is the venue on Friday, June 21, for church music featuring the Brixi Singers and Sinfonia with organist Christian Spence.

On Saturday lunchtime there will be chamber music in the Library Theatre and the week will finish with a symphony concert on Sunday night at Bolton School Arts Centre.

Tickets will be available on the door at each event but reservations for Corus Brass, the Symphony Orchestra concert and the Saturday lunchtime recital may be made by phoning Cath Parkinson on 400784. Bookings for the Festival Fantasia concert may be made at the town hall booking office (364333). For tickets for the Brixi Singers/Sinfonia concert, phone Carol Collins on 01257 480863.

Information about all the events may be obtained from Sheila Tonge on 01257 262958.

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