The University of York Spring Festival, running next week in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, celebrates the present and future of music through contemporary classical, jazz and world music.

At the heart of the festival are events to mark the 90th birthday of York writer and composer Wilfrid Mellers and the 70th birthday of composer Bernard Rands.

Mellers, the founding professor of York's department of music, is still active as a writer and musicologist. The festival opens on Wednesday at 7.30pm with a concert of his music that reflects the energy and sense of fun which characterise the man himself. This will be performed by past and present students, with appearances by friends of the department such as Lynne Dawson, John Potter and Linda Hirst.

New music at the festival includes world premieres of music written for the young vocal trio Juice on May 6 at 1pm, with a second concert performance by Juice at 10pm that night.

The Tord Gustavsen Trio, the Norwegian jazz group, visit York on May 6 at 7.30pm on their UK debut tour to showcase last year's debut album, Changing Places, BBC Radio 3's Late Junction CD of year for 2003.

Appropriately for a music department noted for its contribution to new music, there will be composers' workshops with the ensemble Black Hair and Juice on May 7 from 10.30am to 4pm. This will lead to world premiere performance of the new pieces on May 8 at 1pm.

Music for two pianos by Sheffield-born Bernand Rands and his pupil Vic Hoyland - the UK premiere of The Attraction Of Opposites - will be played by the Helena Bugallo and Amy Williams Piano Duo, from the United States, on May 7 at 7.30pm.

The final concert, on May 8, will be given by the Dutch band De Ereprijs whose distinctive sound comes from their line-up of woodwinds, brass, piano, percussion and electric guitars. Their 7.30pm programme includes Elfen by the Polish composer Hanna Kulenty and works by Dutch and British composers including Roger Marsh and John Stringer.

The festival also features the Festival Lecture given by Bernard Rands, and a family event of dance, music and rural tales from South Asia presented by Kala Sangam on May 8 at 3pm at the National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate.

For festival tickets, ring 01904 432439; for Kala Sangam, 01904 658338.

Updated: 16:31 Thursday, April 29, 2004