Colchester's Roman River Festival has returned with plenty of major events in the next week, including a renowned quarter performing at First Site on Saturday.

Starting as a one-off recital in a church, the Roman River Festival is now in its 24th year and will showcase internationally renowned artists alongside emerging talent from Sunday, September 22 to Sunday, September 29.

The festival uses unconventional and historic venues, and in the past concerts have been held in village churches, country houses and outdoor spaces which reflect the county’s rich history and natural beauty.

There is now a waiting list for the concert on Sunday 29 inside Colchester’s Iconic Jumbo Water Tower which will see Ant Roberts perform poetry alongside Orlando Jopling on Cello.

On Thursday at 8pm at St Andrew's Church in Fingringhoe The Solemn Quartet will be playing the contemporary Edmund Finnis’ Devotions, composed in 2022.

The group, praised for having “immaculate precision and spirit” by The Strad, will also perform pieces by Debussy and the Boulanger sisters.

Tickets will cost £20 to £40, £15 for under 30s.

Mixture - The Solemn Quarter will play contemporary and traditional music like the other acts in the festivalThe Solemn Quarter will play contemporary and traditional music like the other acts in the festival (Image: Rachel Adams) On Friday at the St. James the Great Church on East Hill composer and pianist Huw Watkins, Orlando Jopling on cello, and violinist Sijie Chen will be performing as a trio.

Music by Mel Bonis, a once neglected woman artist who is now recognised as part of the 20th Century canon, will be performed alongside Huw Watkins' own Piano Trio no.2, and Ravel’s Trio.

There will also be a performance by 13-year-old pianist Sofiia Usmanova, winner of Colchester Rotary Club's Music Festival 'Musician of the Year'.

Sofiia left Ukraine in 2022 and has also been featured on Classic FM. 

Tickets cost between £15 and £40 for all.

Popular - The Bach to Baby Family Concert at Layer Marney Tower on Sunday September 22 kicked off the festivalThe Bach to Baby Family Concert at Layer Marney Tower on Sunday September 22 kicked off the festival (Image: Wild Arts)

On Saturday at 1.30pm to 2.30pm at First Site is the group The Hermes Experiment who have released two albums on Delphian to critical acclaim.

The quartet were also the Winners of the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award 2021 and the Royal Over-Seas League Mixed Ensemble Competition 2019.

The concert will last about an hour and ten minutes, with tickets costing £15 to £25 and £10 for under 30s.

Also, on Saturday at 6pm to 8pm is the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto & Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony at the St Peter ad Vincula Church in Coggeshall.

This will be violinist Hana Chang’s first Roman River Festival performance, with Hana being a rising star and internationally and at 21 part of BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists 24-26.

She is also a Borletti-Buitoni Fellowship 2024 Award artist and has been nominated as one of Classic FM’s Rising Stars of 2024.

Tickets cost £25 to £50 and are £15 for under 30s.

Albums - The Hermes Experiment have also released two albums of their own workThe Hermes Experiment have also released two albums of their own work (Image: Submitted) There is also a free masterclass at The Old Library in Colchester from 11am to 1pm on Sunday where young string players are welcome to present a piece of their choice to work with violinist Sijie Chen.

While the finale of the Roman River Festival is the five voice ensemble Catching Voices at St Peter ad Vincula Church in Coggeshall.

Music from Benjamin Britten, Healey Willan, Judith Weir, and others will be performed.

Tickets cost £25 to £35, £15 for under 30s.

To find out more visit https://wildarts.org.uk/roman-river-festival.