A MUSIC festival has been hailed a triumph as its artistic director prepares to step down.

The Maldon Festival had three weekends of music celebrating the theme of the 'French connection', focusing on the inspiration for English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.

On the final weekend, a full audience enjoyed the performance from a group of young singers from Chelmsford and St Edmundsbury Cathedrals.

St Mary’s Church then hosted a free lunchtime concert by Chelmsford Cathedral’s organ scholar, Matthew Kelley.

He performed a range of music on the church’s pipe organ.

Festival artistic director Colin Baldy conducted the Festival Strings as they celebrated the music of Vaughan Williams.

The concert ended with Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs performed by Lawrence Gillians and organ, strings and the choir of St Mary’s.

Mr Baldy said: “They demonstrated that the future of choral singing in this part of the world is in good hands.

“There were several singers whom one will want to look out for in the future, as they develop what must surely be successful careers.

“The finale to the festival, on Saturday, was a glorious event.

“St Mary’s was again full to hear a wide repertoire that included Poulenc’s Organ Concerto played by James Davy, director of music at Chelmsford Cathedral.

“The excitement and power of this piece was ideal for St Mary’s organ and it is hard to imagine another instrument in Essex which could do the piece justice.”

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The event marked the last concert for Mr Baldy with the choir of St Mary’s as he is moving to Italy at the end of the month.

He has lived in Maldon since 2007 and is a member of the Liberal Democrats in the district.

He founded the Maldon Festival in 2008 which is focused on classical music but had grown to include soul, folk, jazz and more.

His last choir is on Sunday, July 24, at St Mary’s Church, Maldon, at the 10am mass and evensong at 6pm.

A bar will be open after evensong and all are welcome to attend for the farewell event.