The best and brightest upcoming young musicians from the Suffolk coast will get the chance to showcase their talents at a special series of events held as part of a popular community festival.

Each lunchtime during the week of the Southwold Arts Festival a young performer will take to the stage at the town's United Reformed Church for the young musicians' showcase.

The aim is to show audience members the talent the area has to offer while also giving the musicians a chance to demonstrate their skills.

Lin Le Versha, arts festival director, said: 'This is great to give them an opportunity to perform and for people to walk in off the street and hear some really good quality classical music.

'People are getting absolutely top quality classical music from very exciting young musicians who are incredibly enthusiastic about what they're doing.

'It is also an opportunity for young musicians in their early years to have some public exposure, as well as giving the audience the chance to hear the stars of the future.'

The idea came about after singer Alice Privett, who is from the area, was looking for ways to her name out there after graduating from the Royal College of Music.

Performers like Ms Privett were given lunchtime slots at the festival last year, with organisers pleasantly surprised at how popular they proved to be.

One of those performing at this year's showcase is Melissa Youngs, of Lowestoft, who began playing the clarinet when she was 10 and plans to make a career out of performing and community outreach work with schools and other groups.

She will perform a clarinet recital on Wednesday, June 29.

'It such a good platform,' she said. 'You never know who's going to come to these festivals and it's good to build contacts.

'Southwold is one of my favourite places and it's nice to do something at home.

'Whenever I get offered something at home, I'm the first to accept.

'There is not much music in east Suffolk - it's completely my life and it's important to promote as much as we can.'

Each recital, sponsored by the Southwold and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, will take place at the United Reformed Church between 1.15pm and 2pm between Monday, June 27 and Friday, July 7.

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