THE programme for this year's Vale of Glamorgan Music Festival has been announced with a focus on music by Welsh and American composers.

This is the only UK festival dedicated to work of living composers and will feature six world premieres, four Festival commissions, a UK premiere by John Adams, walks, talk, and a new Composer Studio dedicated to the memory of Peter Reynolds.

Being held across Penarth, Barry and Cardiff, the festival begins on Friday, May 19.

Y Twr (The Tower) is a new Welsh-language opera by composer Guto Puw, commissioned and performed by the UK’s leading new opera company Music Theatre Wales in conjunction with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, the Welsh- language national theatre company.

It is an adaptation, by the Welsh poet Gwyneth Glyn, of the classic 1978 play by Gwenlyn Parry and explores the journey of two people through life’s all too brief struggle, from youth to old-age, from love to despair, from desire to disillusionment. There are two performances at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff on May 19 and 20, and the production then tours until July 17.

Next up will be Robin Green and Mei Yi Foo on Saturday, May 20, performing at All Saints Church, Penarth, at 2.30pm.

The first UK premiere of the Festival will start at 6.30pm on the same day when a pre-performance talk by Guto Puw and Gwyneth Glyn will take place at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff.

Following on at 7.30pm will be Guto Puw's second performance of Y Twr.

On Sunday, May 21, artists in residence, Onyx Band, will be giving several free, informal short performances along the Vale of Glamorgan coastline culminating in an hour-long concert at the Eastern Shelter, Barry Island.

Informal performances include Penarth Pier (10.30am to 10.50am); Victoria Park, Barry (noon to 12.20pm); Barry Island Gardens (3.30pm to 3.50pm) then finally at pm at the Eastern Shelter.

In the event of bad weather, please check the Festival website for updates on planned performances and venues.

On Monday, May 22, Grand Band will begin a two-day residency at Cardiff's St David's Hall.

On the first day they will hold an open rehearsal in which they will perform and record compositions composed for them by participants attending the Peter Reynolds Composer Studio from 2pm to 5pm. The from 6pm to 8pm they will be joined by young pianists from Cardiff University to play through excerpts of works featured in the evening concert at the venue the next evening.

On Tuesday they will begin with a concert for primary schools presented by Helen Woods at 10.30am, then before their evening performance at 8pm, they will hold a meet the artists talk at 7pm where Steph Power will be in conversation with Ben Wallace and Grand Band.

The Festival will move to Penarth on Wednesday, May 24, with a pre-concert walk at 4.30pm. Starting at Penarth Pier, walkers will be led on a free accompanied walk around Penarth in the company of the Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival.

The walk will last an hour and a half at a slow to moderate pace before returning to the pavilion, where at 6.30pm a pre-concert talk where Keith Potter introduces the music of John Adams will be held.

At 7.30pm the Apollon Musagete Quartet will perform to finish the day.

On the penultimate day of the Festival on Thursday, May 25, visitors can enjoy a second pre-concert free walk from Ewenny Prioy at 3.30pm in the company of the Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival.

The walk lasts one and a half hours at a slow to moderate pace (not suitable for those with mobility issues).

Then at 6.30pm will be meet the composers, where Rian Evans will be in conversation with Steph Power and Hilary Tann before the Marsyas Trio perform at 7.30pm

On the final day on Friday, May 26, the Festival will end in Cardiff.

Starting at 2.30pm, the Marsyas Trio will hold an open rehearsal at Cardiff University's School of Music where they will perform and record works written for them by composers attending the Peter Reynolds Composer Studio.

At 3pm at the Norwegian Church, a third pre-concert free walk will be held across the Cardiff Barrage lasting one and a half hours at a slow moderate pace.

Before the final concert, Stephen Walsh will be in conversation with Graham Fitkin Huw Watkins and Sophie Westbrooke at the BBC Hoddinott Hall at 6.15pm.

Then the final concert at 7.30pm will feature BBC National Orchestra of Wales with Tecwyn Evans, conductor; Paul Watkins, cello; Sophie Westbrooke, recorder and the Apollon Musagete Quartet.

For a full list of concert details please visit the website valeofglamorganfestival.org.uk