ALISON Balsom, now one of the leading trumpet virtuoso on the international scene, is set to return to her musical roots during the Royston Arts Festival. Alison will be joining the Royston Town Band, the Royston Youth Choir and The Meridian School male v

ALISON Balsom, now one of the leading trumpet virtuoso on the international scene, is set to return to her musical roots during the Royston Arts Festival.

Alison will be joining the Royston Town Band, the Royston Youth Choir and The Meridian School male voice a capella group for this year's Grand Festival Concert.

This will be taking place at the Royston Parish Church on Saturday, September 27.

Alison was a member of the Royston Town Band between the ages of eight and 15 years.

Two years ago she became Young British Classical Performer of the Year at the Classical Brits Awards.

She attended Tannery Drift, Greneway and Meridian schools in Royston.

The youth choir appeared during last year's festival and captured the attention of the audience through its exuberance and charm.

The Meridian a capella group will be making its public debut at the concert.

The concert hopes again this year to generate a Last Night of the Proms atmosphere.

This year's festival will begin on Thursday, September 25 and run until Sunday, September 28.

One highlight will be the launch of the book, Royston Through the Eyes of a Child.

The book has been put together from quotations from children aged 4-9 as both a literary project and a piece of social history.

Full details of this year's Royston Arts Festival will appear in next week's edition of The Crow, or visit www.roystonartsfest.org