The 11 day MBNA Chester Music Festival returns to Chester Town Hall and Cathedral from June 3-13, with a programme of orchestral concerts and chamber recitals.

Music group Ensemble Deva, featuring musicians from the country’s most prestigious orchestras, will perform throughout the festival programme.

For 2015 the ensemble welcomes Thomas Gould, a British violinist who performs as soloist with orchestras worldwide including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, LA Phil New Music Group, Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne and West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

On joining Ensemble Deva, the violinist said: “I’m happy to be returning to Chester in a range of different guises this year - collaborating with amazing musicians Gwilym Simcock, Ksenija Sidorova and Clark Rundell, and for the first time performing with the festival’s own resident Ensemble Deva.

“It will be a luxury to spend some time in the area forming relationships with the other musicians and getting to know members of the audience - usually we have to run to catch a train as soon as the concert finishes - and this should make for some great music-making.”

Thomas regularly appears at the largest UK venues and in recent seasons has performed at venues including London’s Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Centre and Royal Festival Hall, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and Manchester Evening News Arena, and Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and National Indoor Arena.

He will perform in the anticipated concert at St John’s the Baptist Church in Vicar’s Lane, Welcome to the Pleasures, featuring music from Handel, Purcell and Albinoni.

The concert introduces musicians from the all new Deva Academy, players at the beginning of their musical career being mentored by members of Ensemble Deva.

Thomas Gould will also perform in the festival’s finale – Gran Caffe Venezia event, a concert reminiscent of music heard in Venice’s famous St Mark’s Square.

For more information and how to book visit www.chestermusicfestival.co.uk , call 0845 241 7868 or visit Chester Visitor Centre, Town Hall Square.