TENOR soloist Gareth Dafydd Morris, returns to make his second appearance at the Montgomery County Music Festival concert to be held at The Hafren theatre, Newtown, on Saturday, May 11, in a programme that is both modern and diverse.

Now in its 98th year, this year is an exciting line-up for regular audiences and for hopefully new audiences.

Gareth will join the mixed choir and musicians, led by Julia Hargreaves, with the Bro Hafren Children’s Choir and a gallery choir from Oswestry Ladies' Choir.

Gareth is contracted to the Welsh National Opera singing roles and as a soloist in family concerts. He performs internationally in concert and oratorio, broadcasting as a soloist with the BBC.

Major works feature two by Benjamin Britten. As well as accompanying the choir, the musicians will be performing Britten’s ‘Simple Symphony Opus 4'. Written in1933, Britten used some of the melodies he had written as a boy, and tempered with his studies with John Ireland and Frank Bridge, bought together this entertaining piece.

The second half of the concert has the performance of the cantata 'St Nicolas Opus 42' by Benjamin Britten on a text by Eric Crozier, completed in 1948.

It covers the legendary life story of Saint Nicolas the Bishop of Myra, in a dramatic sequence of events. The work involves the mixed festival choir, tenor soloist, a gallery choir, three boy singers, percussionists and two pianists. Crozier’s libretto paints a bold picture of the character, his legends and glory, Britten’s music enhances the drama. Included are two hymns, the 'Old Hundreth' and finishing the work with ‘God Moves in a Mysterious Way’.

The festival affiliated young people’s choir Bro Hafren Choir, the adult chorus and various musicians will present 'Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo', a witty libretto by Michael Flanders (of Flanders and Swann) and some lively music by Horovitz.

The work was written in 1970 and first performed by The King Singers, and in 1976 was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Best British Work for Children. Mike Clarke sings the part of Noah.

The Little Jazz mass by Bob Chilcott, (one of original King Singers) moulds together the beautiful Latin 'Missa Brevis' with harmonious ‘bluesy’ jazz harmonies. Composed in 2004, Chilcott has used his skill to successfully bring together two diverse traditions, the Latin mass and the jazz idiom with both power and lyricism.

Additional soloists are James Bartholomew (Young Nicolas), plus the ‘Pickled Boys’, and the festival pianists are Kevin Gill and Aeron Preston, with the percussion section led by Dewi Elis Jones.

Once again the entire night is ably directed by Patrick Larley who has been in charge of the festival since 2008 and continues to inspire with his choral abilities, musicianship, composing skills and humour.

The evening begins at 7.30pm and tickets from The Hafren box office on 01686 614555, are priced at £12 or £6 for children and students. A family ticket is also available for £30.