MUSIC lovers are in for a treat when Hagley Music Festival returns for its eighth year.

The popular event attracts top professional musicians from all over the world to perform on the same bill as local amateurs and enthusiasts.

Bringing together a broad mixture of performers and style, the festival also provides a platform for young musicians from nearby schools.

This year’s festival, running between April 11 and 26, features a joint performance from guitar stars Craig Ogden and Xuefei Yang who have both appeared in previous years.

The pair will be playing a mixture of solos and duets together for the first time ever at St John’s Church on Saturday April 25.

Students from Hagley Catholic High School and Haybridge High School are scheduled to perform as are pupils from year 5 at Hagley Primary School who will be teaming up with vocal tutors from Ex Cathedra for afternoon workshops leading up to an evening concert in St John’s.

The Rev Richard Newton, Rector of the Parish of Hagley and event co-ordinator, said: “It is really encouraging that young musicians who have performed with these vocal tutors in previous festivals are still involved in making music in various projects that they run.”

Also part of the 2015 festival is Di Xiao, a piano tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire, harpist Elizabeth Bass, celebrated professional ensemble The Orchestra of the Swan and Hagley Community Orchestra.

Tickets are on sale now and can be bought from the festival booking hotline by calling 01562 884216 or online at www.hagleymusicfestival.co.uk, where more details about the festival, including a full programme of events, is available.