‘Brainchild of local composer Robert Walker, Lord Egremont, and a group of like-minded local people, the first festival took place over a September weekend in 1979 with concerts featuring English music staged in the wonderful acoustic of Petworth’s parish church, St. Mary’s. As the Festival’s popularity and reputation grew, so the dates were changed, the current three weeks in July were established in 2000 ... Alongside a substantial outreach programme and events promoting the work of young performers, the Festival presents prestige concerts across the genres.’