Founded in 1982 in the former county town of Radnorshire in Wales, the Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts has become a significant part of the Welsh cultural calendar. Internationally renowned for its commissioning of new work, support of living composers and with a long tradition for the encouragement of young artists, the organisation works closely with composers and performers to create and curate inspiring events for an ever-widening Festival audience, bringing experience- broadening opportunities to its host community.

In its relatively short history, the Festival has commissioned well over 200 new works and has hosted many eminent musicians as composer-in-residence, among them Sally Beamish, Cecilia McDowall, Joseph Phibbs, Peter Sculthorpe, Pēteris Vasks, Huw Watkins and Dame Judith Weir.

In 1989, the Festival founded its own resident chamber orchestra – a group of twenty or so young professionals who make Presteigne their home at the end of August each year, performing under conductor George Vass, the Festival’s Artistic Director since 1992.