TWO orchestral concerts will be performed in Ripon Cathedral as part of the town's international festival this September.

The Royal Northern Sinfonia will return for the opening concert and the London Mozart Players will make their first appearance at the annual event.

Concert master and violin virtuoso Bradley Creswick plays Vivaldi's exuberant Four Seasons in a programme with Dvorak’s much-loved Serenade providing delicate contrast on September 5.

Janusz Piotrowicz will conduct the London Mozart Players in Mendelsson’s Overture Fingal’s Cave and Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s mighty Eroica Symphony at the Royal Hall (Saturday, September 19). The soloist is Jennifer Pike, BBC Young musician of the Year at the age of 12 in 2002, who gives searing performances of the classics at concert halls around the world.

Other highlights include a first appearance by award-winning jazz singer and broadcaster Clare Teal with jazz pianist Jason Rebello (Friday, September 11).

Guitar virtuoso Juan Martin and Chaparro de Malaga will transport audiences to the classic Spain of Granada, Malaga and Cordoba through the power of authentic flamenco (Saturday, September 12).

Scotland’s top prizewinning traditional musicians Robyn Stapleton, vocals, Kristan Harvey (Blazin’ Fiddles) and Aaron Jones, bouzouki player (Kate Rusby band) will share their passion for Celtic folk music (Thursday, September 10).

Huw Wiggin, one of the finest saxophonists of his generation, winner of the Royal Overseas League Competition and Commonwealth Musician of the Year 2014, appears with young clarinettist Anna Hashimoto, already touring the world from New York to Tokyo, in a double bill with piano accompaniment (Tuesday, September 15).

Actress Sunny Ormonde, best-known as Lilian in The Archers, presents The Land of Lost Content, an evening of humour and lyricism celebrating the life and work of A E Housman with actor David Timson, soprano Marilyn Cutts (Fascinating Aida, RSC) and Malcolm McKee, pianist (Wednesday, September 16).

Prizewinning baroque musicians Duo Dorado promise "wild, sweet, passionate, flirtatious” music for violin and harpsichord at (Thursday, September 17).

St Mary’s Church in Masham is the venue for best-selling author Alison Weir to talk about her new book, The Lost Princess.

Neil Hanson (The Inn at the Top) will speak about his new book, Pigs Might Fly, at Ripon Spa Hotel.

Festival fortnight ends on September 21, but a late-date addition is a family show about the adventures of the Chinese mythical character, Monkey, by Puppetcraft, written by Michael Rosen, at Ripon Leisure Centre on Sunday, October 4.

Brochures listing concerts and show are available at shops and tourist information outlets or visit riponinternationalfestival.com for online bookings. Call the box office on 01765 605508 and 603994.