Introducing

If you're lucky enough to live in or near the city of Gloucester then you are on the doorstep of one of Europe's most historic and interesting buildings. The 900 year old Cathedral is fabulous enough in its own right, but once every three years it also plays host to one of the world's oldest and most important choral music festivals. 

Gloucester Choral Society in rehearsal

The Three Choirs Festival is well over 250 years old and alternates between the three cathedral cities of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford. This year it's back in our county and starts on Saturday 4 August with a performance of Benjanin Britten's War Requiem and runs through until Sunday 12 August.  

To mark the occasion BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Dave Harries and Pete Wilson have been looking at the music and organisations that contribute to the success of the festival and celebrating the music of Gloucestershire.

You can hear Dave Harries' radio features all next week (6-10 August) by listening to John Rockley's Mid-Morning Show on BBC Radio Gloucestershire (9am-12pm), or by clicking on the links on this page.

Radio Gloucestershire's Pete Wilson has also been behind the scenes of the festival, meeting everyone from the organisers to the people laying the wooden floors. You can hear his documentary this Sunday 5 August from 2pm-3pm on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

And you can hear more about the Three Choirs Festival on Richard Atkins' Sunday Breakfast Programme on Sunday 5th August (6am-9am). Amongst the guests Richard will be talking to Johnathan Coates, a choral scholar at Gloucester Cathedral, as he prepares for the choral equivalent of playing at Wembley for the first time!

The Philharmonia Orchestra

Celebrating The Music of Gloucestershire

Here Dave Harries tells us about the making of his Three Choirs Festival radio features:-

"One of the great things about working as a radio producer is the shear variety of people you are lucky enough to meet. This was never more true than when making the five features that form part of BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Three Choirs Festival coverage.

"The range and versatility of musicians in our county is well known, but what is less appreciated is their sheer talent, enthusiasm and willingness to share their gift with others. 

"From the highly accomplished professionalism of Three Choirs artistic director Andrew Nethsingha to the nascent musical awakenings of the children in the county junior choir, I encountered nothing but a genuine love of music and performance.

"What also struck me as I wandered through the musical community of the county was the shear amount of hard work that goes on in order to bring us, not just great festivals like Three Choirs, but also the many excellent amateur classical concerts that go on week after week throughout the year.

"When I visited a rehearsal of the County Junior Choir I was amazed by the concentration on the faces of the children, all of whom had given up their Saturday morning to be there. Similarly with the cathedral youth choir; ordinary teenagers willing to give up their free time to be part of something that they couldn't experience anywhere else - the joy of singing great music with other like minded people.  

"The adult choirs were no less impressive. From the exuberance and enthusiasm of the Gloucester Choral Society, to the dedication of the elite musicians of the Oriel Singers. They are all amateurs, but show a level of commitment and musicianship that would put many a professional to shame.

"And finally I was lucky enough to meet members of the world famous Philharmonia Orchestra who accompany the choirs throughout the Three Choirs festival. They are professional musicians but are far from cynical hacks who have played it all before, indeed their enthusiasm for music in general and the Three Choirs in particular was both refreshing and inspiring.

"If you get a chance, please go and hear something at the Three Choirs Festival, you will not be disappointed.  If you can't, then make yourself a promise to attend one of the many classical concerts put on by Gloucestershire musicians throughout the year. 

"We live in one of the most musical areas in the country, so go on, give yourself a treat and make the most of the talent that surrounds us all."

You can hear Dave Harries' radio features all next week (6-10 August) by listening to John Rockley's Mid-Morning Show on BBC Radio Gloucestershire (9am-12pm), or by clicking on the links on this page.