Our lecturers are: Professor Hagan Bayley, on the science and industrial might of nanopores; Dr Lauren Burgeno who will explain the genetic and neurological basis for addiction to drugs; Professor Kimberley Palladino on the nature of, and search for, the dark matter that makes up most of our universe; and Professor Seb Shimeld who will explain the evolutionary benefits of having identifiable “tops”, “bottoms”, “lefts” and “rights” in the animal kingdom.

The musical highlights include a performance by this year’s Pierre Fournier Awardee, Annie Jacobs-Perkins, who will perform an extensive and eclectic programnme in an afternoon cello and piano recital. Old friends of the Festival, pianists Katya Apekisheva, Amandine Savary and Danny Driver make welcome returns, Katya to give a duo recital, four hands at piano, with another old friend, Charles Owen; Amandine in the Salieca Piano Trio and elsewhere and Danny to give a performance of one of the great musical masterpieces, J.S. Bach’s “Goldberg” Variations. Clarinettist Julian Bliss returns in a Berwald rarity, his Septet. Brahms A Major piano quartet debuts at the Festival, while Jack Liebeck appears throughout and as ever is our Artistic Director and musical guide.

Tickets for Under 25's available free through the Cavatina ticket scheme from Oxford May Music direct - please contact [email protected]