THE Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, two chart-topping choirs, Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, guitarists John Williams and John Etheridge and literary celebrities are among a colourful array of internationally- renowned artists appearing at Ripon International Festival from September 4-23.

The choirs of contrasting style, which have achieved top of the charts in the UK and the US and Classical Brit Awards nominations 2010, are the exciting young early music choir Stile Antico in their Grammy Award-winning programme Song of Songs, by candlelight at Ripon Cathedral, and the Fron Male Voice Choir, “Voices of the Valley”, which shot to stardom in recent years with TV appearances, world tours and sales of 1m albums in the UK, at the restored Royal Hall, Harrogate.

Mugenkyo returns with a spectacular new show featuring eastern dance artist Lale Sayoko, and dance of a very different nature features in Spanish Spice by the brilliant ensemble Eclipse, with guest artist from Spain, the flamenco and contemporary dancer Mariona Castells.

The festival’s literary strand is filled by three popular writers: Joanne Harris (famous for Chocolat), the irrepressible Gervase Phinn (dubbed “the James Herriot of schools”) and Salley Vickers, whose first novel, Miss Garnet’s Angel, became an international sensation and a favourite among book clubs, selling more than 1m copies to date.

Other events include Dimitris Dekavallas on classical guitar, Pantagruel Renaissance Musicke at Markenfield Hall, baritone Richard Parry in An Act of Piracy – a drama told in poetry and music – at Masham, Purves Puppets’ ultra-violet spectacular The Firebird, folk with the Carnival Band and, to open on September 4, Ripon By The Sea – a family fun day with the National Festival Circus and other attractions.

To receive a free brochure, call the festival office on 01765-605508 or visit riponinternationalfes tival.com.