2007 proved a glorious year for one of England’s foremost current composers - John Rutter, for in that year he received a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list for his services to music. His joyous Magnificat will feature in Phoenix Choir’s summer concert. That year was also a happy celebration for Michael Fields, since this saw the premiere of his own composition Midsummer Mass.

The fabulous Priscilla Queen of the Desert sashays into the Congress Theatre this summer from August 12-17 starring Noel Sullivan.

Welsh singing star Sophie Evans will be coming to the Royal Hippodrome Theatre on June 8.

Eastbourne may never have experienced anything quite like the volume of sound produced during the Wagner, Verdi and Britten concert on Saturday, May 4.

2013 marks the 30th anniversary of Billy Fury’s untimely death and the music of Britain’s own Elvis, is celebrated by Michael King and his fantastic musicians in The Billy Fury Years, at Congress Theatre, Eastbourne on Friday, May 24.

Sovereign Polyphony, the Eastbourne-based female harmony choir, presents the first of their 2013 concerts next Friday (May 17, 7.45pm).

All Saints Chapel, Meads, hopes a major musical event this Spring Bank Holiday week (May 3-5). Star attraction at Gods & Heroes is Sir John Tomlinson, a Sussex resident, who has sung major roles in the world’s top local opera houses.

The Eastbourne Gilbert & Sullivan Society is putting on The Sorcerer from Tuesday, May 7 to Saturday, May 11 at the Devonshire Park Theatre. The Sorcerer is the opera which set the mould for Gilbert and Sullivan. A lively story with all the usual characters, muddles and final happy ending.