FINAL preparations are being made for the second Christchurch Priory Music and Arts Festival.

Starting this weekend, the festival promises to offer a spectacular week of music performed at the historic Priory, St George's and St John's churches.

The event will run from Sunday for a week until Saturday June 18.

Along with musical performances there will be artworks produced by local schools based on the Creation theme.

The Priory Choirs concert is likely to be one of the most popular events, celebrating the work of all the choristers, aged 7 to 77, who enhance the services at the Priory with their beautiful singing.

This will take place on Friday June 17.

Other events will include a performance from Highcliffe Youth Choir and a combined festival evensong with Priory Choirs joined by singers from Romsey Abbey, Wimborne Minster and St Peter's Bournemouth on Sunday June 12.

On Monday, a schools workshop will be held followed by a swing and jazz concert with Bournemouth University Big Band.

In the evening, the music of West Java will come to Christchurch from Gamelan Sekar Enggal, with the concert held on the lawn of Priory House.

Tuesday June 14 will see the Baptistery of the Priory host the Anern Trio for a special performance and on Wednesday there will be an evening with international concert pianist Phillip Dyson.

The Priory's own organist Geoffrey Morgan will give a recital on Thursday and on Saturday June 18, the specially formed Christchurch Festival Chorus will perform Josef Haydn's oratorio Creation.

The festival is supported by Renaissance Retirement.

Tickets for the concerts are available from the Priory Box Office, open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 3pm in Cloister Way, and online by following the link christchurchpriory.org/festival2016.