ALISON CROOSE Aled Jones, whose singing career has rocketed since he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Songs of Praise, heads the list of world-famous entertainers appearing at this year's King's Lynn Festival.

ALISON CROOSE

Aled Jones, whose singing career has rocketed since he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Songs of Praise, heads the list of world-famous entertainers appearing at this year's King's Lynn Festival.

The boy soprano turned superstar, now in his mid-30s, is enjoying renewed popularity thanks to his television appearances and high-profile on Classic FM.

He will appears at the festival on July 20, following a spring tour of some of Britain's biggest venues.

Aled will be part of a wide-ranging programme – being staged on July 17-30 – which will also feature brass band classics from the Black Dyke Band, jazz supremo Stan Tracey and his quartet, distinguished historian David Starkey and BBC foreign affairs editor John Simpson.

The 55th festival will maintain its tradition of a strong classical music content.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will perform some favourite works with guest soloist Freddy Kempf, who will play Rachmaninov's second piano concerto.

Kempf, who in his 20s has already established himself as one of the great pianists of the world, will also give a recital featuring Beethoven sonatas and Chopin etudes.

Last year's BBC Young Musician, Nicola Benedetti, will appear with the European Union Chamber Orchestra in a concert at St Nicholas' Chapel.

The Orchestra of St John's will team up with King's Lynn Festival Chorus to present Haydn's Nelson Mass – as part of the festival's Nelson theme – and other works for chorus and orchestra.

Rising stars of the classical music world will give a series of five morning coffee concerts, which are a popular feature of the festival, and leading authors will speak at a literary dinner.

Artistic director Ambrose Miller said: “The festival caters for a wide range of tastes and maintains our tradition for excellence – from a world-famous brass band and a much-respected name in the jazz world to one of Britain's top orchestras and a BBC Young Musician enjoying a meteoric career.”

A touring production of Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor, the New Scorpion Band paying tribute to Nelson with traditional and maritime songs and early music by Sonnerie with Monica Huggett and David Owen Norris will add to the variety.

For more information, call the festival office on 01553 767557.