CLARINETTIST Emma Johnson is topping the bill at a new Warwickshire music festival this summer. Emma's talent and bubbly personality have made her a worldwide favourite as a soloist and she will be performing at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford on July 12 as part of the town's new Midsummer Music Festival. She will be playing works by Schumann, Brahms and Elgar as well as a jazz-inspired piece called Suite for Emma written for her by John Dankworth. She will be joined on piano by Andrew West. Concert-goers are invited to take a picnic to enjoy in the institute gardens before the concert, which is one of three planned for the weekend festival. The opening event will feature rising star pianist Mitra Alice Tham. The 26-year-old will be playing Bach, Beethoven and Mozart in Stratford Town Hall at noon, on July 12. And, to round off the festival, the Doric Quartet, hailed as one of Britain's most outstanding string quartets, will play Haydn and Beethoven on July 13, at 3pm. This will be followed by tea and strawberry cakes in the institute's gardens. The summer festival is part of a strategy to put Stratford on the international festival map and to serve as taster for the annual Stratford on Avon Music Festival which runs in October. Musicians lined up for the autumn event include superb pianist John Lill and young cellist Natalie Klein. For tickets for Midsummer Music visit www.civichall,co.uk * THERE are still a few tickets left for John Lill's piano recital at the picturesque All Saints Church in Leamington Hastings, near Rugby, at 7pm tomorrow. Call 07966 584328 for details or turn up on the night. * SINGING sensation Hayley Westenra is to give a concert in Warwickshire this autumn. The New Zealand songbird will be performing at the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington on November 28 - an intimate setting compared with some of the huge venues she has played world wide such as Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall. Hayley, currently on a tour of Japan, is hailed as the biggest-selling artist of the 21st century with combined album sales of more than four million worldwide - and she has only just turned 21. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Monday and cost £27 and £25.50 with £2 off for Friends. * To book call 01926 334418 or go online to www.royal-spa-centre.co.uk | 
