BISHOPTHORPE concert guitarist Mark Clifton-Gaultier opens this weekend’s York Guitar Festival 2013 at Queen Margaret’s School in Escrick.

His 1.20pm programme of popular tunes from film, stage and television on Saturday, entitled Rain In Spain, includes works by Lloyd Webber, Bernstein, Tárrega and Myer’s Cavatina, the theme from 1978 film The Deer Hunter.

From 11am, York schoolchildren compete against young classical guitarists from the north of England, including Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester.

At 7.30pm, the York Guitar Quartet concludes the first day with arrangements of works by Piazzola, Bartók, and Poulenc.

On Sunday, the Dodici Corde Guitar Duo, play early Romantic guitar pieces on period instruments at 1.20pm. Dressed in period costumes, Mark Willetts and Danielle Saxon-Reeves will be performing works by Sor, Diabelli and Scheidler in Queen Margaret’s chapel.

The festival concludes on Sunday evening with a 7.30pm programme by Gary Ryan, head of classical guitar studies at the Royal College of Music in London, featuring Benjamin Britten’s Nocturnal plus works by William Walton, Albeniz, Bach and Antônio Carlos Jobim.

“We hope York’s music enthusiasts will welcome our varied programme of acclaimed soloists, local performers and talented youngsters,” says festival director Robert Heath. “It’s a chance to see what the guitar, an instrument normally associated with pop and rock, can do in the hands of truly amazing concert performers.”

Festival proceeds will go to Jessie’s Fund, the York charity that uses music to support disabled children and their families. For tickets, visit yorkguitarfestival.com or email info@yorkguitarfestival.com