THE past thirteen summers has seen Llandeilo become ever more established as a place music lovers must visit, for one magical week in July.

During that time the town has become increasingly associated with a standard of excellence in music making which belies its modest size and which has placed it firmly on the musical map of Britain.

It has done this by constantly attracting world-class instrumentalists and singers of a stature more readily associated with the country’s bigger towns and cities.

It’s good to know, therefore, that this year’s Llandeilo musical festival looks to surpass anything which has gone before, with the Sicilian-born operatic diva Nuccia Focile, Britain’s leading clarinettist, Michael Collins and the renowned St. Petersburg String Quartet amongst those taking part.

Guardian readers will be particularly interested however in the final concert of the Festival, which will feature the winner of the 2012 BBC Young Musician competition, Laura van der Heijden, who played the cello so memorably on BBC 4 at the end of this year’s competition, last Sunday night.

The beautiful trophy presented to the 2014 competition winner that night was of course designed and made by Llandeilo jeweller, Marie Jones, as reported in the Guardian (May 7 edition). What a happy coincidence for the Festival.

Llandeilo music festival is set to run from July 12-20.

For tickets, brochures and further information contact Julia Jones 01269 594303 / Peppercorn 01558 822410 / TIC Hotline 01267 231557.

You can also visit their website at www.llandeilomusicfestival.org.uk