Winchester Guitar Festival will take place slightly earlier this year, and will run from Friday, June 15 to Sunday, June 17.

The line-up includes Martha Masters from Los Angeles, who received both the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory.

Her recent concerts have included performances in China, Denmark, Spain, Poland, Germany, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. She has also played in Britain and America.

Winning the Guitar Foundation of America Solo Guitar Competition last year, her performance is likely to include Argentine Tango, Bach and Scarlatti.

Also taking part is Matthew Robinson, who spent four years at Birmingham Conservatoire, winning its guitar prize in 2007.

He is expected to perform a series of works by Elizabethan lute player John Dowland.

Also taking part are the four members of the Vida Guitar Quartet who announced themselves at the 2007 World Youth Guitar Festival.

Mark Ashford, Helen Sanderson, Christopher Stell and Mark Eden are poised to release a new CD entitled Rhapsody.

Their festival programme will include Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, David Crittenden’s Scottish Fantasy and Adam Gorb’s Yiddish Dances.

There will also be a course for musicians aged 12 and above to hone their classical guitar skills, which cost £230 with some discounts available.

The concerts will take place at Milner Hall in St Peter Street and also Winchester Discovery Centre in Jewry Street.

Visit winchesterguitarfestival.co.uk to find out more and to book tickets for the shows.