A FEAST of music is in store at The Wessex Festival 2014, which begins on Thursday.

The festival, which takes place from August 14 to 17, comprises an eclectic mix of concerts, choral church services, a folk night, a ramble and even a tour of Bryanston’s new music school.

Services will take place in Bryanston, in Blandford, Shillingstone and Spetisbury churches.

The music of Haydn features heavily this year, with performances of his Nelson Mass, Insanae et vanae curea, and Organ Concerto on Saturday night, taking place in the beautiful St Martin’s Church, hidden in the grounds of Bryanston School.

Mozart’s virtuosic Exsultate, jubilate also features in this concert.

The festival opens on Thursday with a concert that includes Duruflé’s moving setting of the Requiem, Tallis’ Lamentations and Bach’s Air on the G string.

The 70th birthday of local renowned composer Christopher Dowie will also be celebrated with a performance of his Alleluia.

The festival singers will be joined by the professional Wessex Chamber Orchestra for these concerts.

Beautiful Baroque will be a very special evening, when vocal octet Excelsior, with members of Wessex Chamber Orchestra, will perform glorious music by Gibbons, Purcell and Monteverdi, including movements from the Vespers of 1610.

The talented Christina and Graham Scott will, respectively, lead the orchestra and be the Festival Organist.

Alex Coplan, a student at Bryanston School, will perform a solo recital to include music by Bach, Vierne and Dyson.

At the heart of the Festival are the services of Compline, Eucharist and Evensong.

The Festival’s chamber choir Wessex Voices, will sing the music, which includes Haydn’s Little Organ Mass and the magnificent Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D by Dyson.

For the second year running, the Festival Chaplain will be Very Revd. Alan Woods, Dean Emeritus of Gibraltar.

David Everett, the festival director, has put the festival programme together.

He also conducts the concerts and services. Away from the festival, David runs choral workshops and conducts The Orlando Singers, The Broadstone Choir, Dorset Chamber Choir and Wessex Chamber Orchestra.

Tickets can be bought from the festival’s website wessexfestival.co.uk or by ringing the festival box office on 01258 454331.