A WHIRLWIND of sound and colour will be coming to Christchurch this summer.

The Christchurch Priory's Music and Art Festival is teaming up with FlowerFest to provide a town-wide celebration.

As part of the events in June, floral displays will be installed around the town centre and through the historic quarter, down to the Monastic Lawn behind the Priory.

In the Priory, schools will be submitting artworks on the theme of 'Tradition', with pieces representing all the schools involved.

Musically, the festival, hopes to reach an even wider audience, and will start with a performance of William Walton's oratorio Belshazzar’s Feast on Saturday, June 9.

Sunday, June 10 will see the choir from Romsey Abbey join Evensong.

Vocal group Papagena, who are regular performers at the Edinburgh Festival, will be showcasing choral music from plainsong to pop on the evening of Monday June 11.

More unusually, there will also be a ceilidh dance in the church during the festivities, with the Royal Marines Band Collingwood also visiting the historic venue.

And there will also be a chance to have a beer and a sing song, as the Priory is turned into a public house.

Visitors will be offered a drink to enjoy with entertainment from the house band.

Friday evening will see the ever-popular Priory Choirs concert featuring a performance of Benjamin Britten’s, St Nicolas.

The 'Last Night' on Saturday, June 16 will include Schumann’s A Minor piano concerto played by Janine Forrester/

The second half will include music from the BBC Last Night of the Proms.

People who would like to sing in the Festival Chorus for Belshazzar’s Feast or to join the Come and Sing choir on the Last Night should e-mail Simon Earl at music@christchurchpriory.org.

n Christchurch Priory will be closed to visitors on Saturday March 3 from 10am to 3pm

This is due to 'Be a Chorister for a Day' which is open to anyone aged from seven to 11. Everyone is welcome to attend Evensong at 3pm. The service will finish at 3.30pm.