SALISBURY’S Guildhall is set to host this year's Celebrate Voice festival in 2021

Taking place over two long weekends in October (21-24 and 28-30), Celebrate Voice will be the first festival to stage all its events in the city’s civic building.

Each evening will see world-class performances of opera, jazz, cabaret, music theatre and a cappella while the festival’s community programme features participatory events for all, from babies to older people.

Celebrate Voice founder and director, Lynsey Docherty, said: “We are thrilled to be supported by Salisbury City Council who have gifted this distinguished venue to host our 2021 festival.

"It is vital that we build such partnerships across the city to resurrect and celebrate the arts, and we are delighted at the recognition of our continued output through the pandemic, which has kept us at the heart of the arts community.”

The award-winning grassroots festival which is now in its eighth year, relies on scores of local volunteers, hosts, business sponsors and philanthropists to support their work each year.

“Celebrate Voice is not just a festival, it’s a thriving, welcoming and vibrant community, and the fact that so many people come together to make it happen is testament to both the community and the ethos of the festival,” added Lynsey.

The mayor of Salisbury, Cllr Caroline Corbin said: “Salisbury City Council are delighted to partner with Celebrate Voice which offers a very inclusive music experience for our community over a variety of genres.

“The Guildhall is a magnificent setting which will provide a spectacular backdrop to the event and we look forward to seeing the festival take shape.”

Celebrate Voice will announce the programme in early August.

Meanwhile, the Celebrate Voice Live @ Little Durnford fundraising opera gala on July 31 sold out within a week back in May.

The festival has just released limited additional tickets for sale to coincide with lockdown restrictions lifting.

The festival is experiencing a flurry of positive activity, currently a finalist in the Best Arts/ Venue Muddy Stilettos Awards. It also has a new principal sponsor and recently received a significant philanthropic donation to support their work in 2021. In education, the festival has taken its celebrated opera workshops to 900 children in primary schools this summer term, in collaboration with Wiltshire Music Connect.

The festival encourages anyone who would like to be involved as a volunteer, sponsor or friend to make contact via celebratevoice.co.uk.

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