Leading UK folk artist Eliza Carthy has composed and arranged a new suite of Welcome Songs, inspired by Much Wenlock, the Shropshire town that has become famous as the birthplace of the modern Olympic movement.

The songs will performed alongside a massed community choir this July, one of a series of four performances around the country especially commissioned for the London 2012 Festival, the 12-week nationwide celebration running from 21 June to 9 September 2012. The performances are intended as a welcome to the international community coming to the UK for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Welcome Songs is produced by The Dartington Hall Trust and funded by Arts Council England and the PRS for Music Foundation.

Eliza Carthy has used the traditional songs and stories associated with Much Wenlock, Chipping Campden, Stoke Mandeville and Weymouth as her inspiration to create four new pieces of music in these places which have contributed so much to the Olympic and Paralympic movements. The Much Wenlock performance on Wednesday 11 July will coincide with this year’s Wenlock Olympian Games – the inspiration for the modern Olympic movement – and will be led by renowned choral director Robert Hollingworth, featuring Eliza, Robert and members of his celebrated choir I Fagiolini. They will be joined on stage by choirs drawn from the surrounding communities.

Twice-nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Price, Eliza Carthy is the winner of five BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and has been a judge at both the Q Awards and the Ivor Novello Awards. She divides her time between touring and recording with her legendary musical parents Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson and pioneering solo and band projects.

Welcome Songs performance will take place in the tranquil ruins of Wenlock Priory, a medieval priory enhanced with a topiary-filled cloister garden, managed by English Heritage.

Paul Kaynes, Creative Programmer for London 2012 in the West Midlands, said: “We are delighted to welcome Eliza Carthy to Much Wenlock during this very special summer. The London 2012 Festival is allowing everyone, no matter where they are in the UK, to witness world-class art and culture on their doorstep. Eliza’s Welcome Songs performance at Much Wenlock is just one of over 70 events taking place around our region in celebration of London 2012 and I’d urge everyone to take the opportunity to get involved with this once-in-a-lifetime occassion.”

The full programme for the London 2012 Festival is announced today (26th April) including a number of new commissions for the West Midlands. Shobana Jeyasingh Dance has created a new work for churches, TooMortal, to be performend in Worcester’s St Swithun’s Church in July. At Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery, artist couple Boyd & Evans will present the most comprehensive survey of their forty year career, comprising painting and photography of middle America.

The London 2012 Festival is a spectacular 12-week nationwide celebration bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK, opening on Midsummer’s Day 21 June and running until 9 September 2012.

All confirmed programming for the London 2012 Festival is now available for the public to view on the festival website, www.london2012.com/festival, where people can download the full London 2012 Festival brochure and sign up to receive information on new events and performances that will be announced up to the start of the festival.

Tickets for The Welcome Song will be available from www.welcomesongs.co.uk this Spring.

Twitter: @Welcome Songs

For more information about the London 2012 Festival, Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 in the West Midlands visit www.wmfor2012.com

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