A music festival to commemorate the life and works of the late composer Charles Camilleri will be held between Wednesday and January 17, with concerts in the UK and Malta.

This month marks the first anniversary from Mro Camilleri's demise.

Festival organiser and artistic director Maria Blanco said the concept of the festival sprouted from a personal promise made to Mro Camilleri to "keep his music alive".

The festival will see about 40 musicians of different nationalities, most of whom had been in close professional collaboration with the composer during his lifetime.

Among the performers will be violinist Carmine Lauri, accordionist Milos Milivojevic, flautist Laura Falzon, mezzo-soprano Claire Massa, cellist Lesley Shrigley Jones, pianist Maria Blanco and clarinettists Anthony Houghton and Godfrey Mifsud.

Also taking part will be the Cassini String Quartet and the Jessop Wind Ensemble from Sheffield University, for whom Mro Camilleri had composed music. The Philharmonic Orchestra, which had been involved in last year's world premiere of Mro Camilleri's New Idea Symphony in Belgium, will again be conducted by Brian Schembri.

The festival will start in Kent on January 13, continuing with a concert at St James Piccadilly in London on January 14 and culminating in two concerts at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta on January 16 and 17.

The highlights of the January 16 concert will include a world premiere of the Sonata for Two Clarinets, Kanti Popolari, the Clarinet Concertino and the Flute Divertimento.

The concert on January 17 will feature Mro Camilleri's highly-symbolic piano quintet Requiem for the Massacred, Accordion Concerto and Four Legends, a folkloristic orchestral suite.

For more information e-mail camillerifest@gmail.com.

Tickets for the local concerts can be obtained from the Manoel Theatre booking office tel. 2124 6389 or through bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.