IT’S the first weekend of Holmfirth Arts Week and what a start is in prospect.

Tonight there is a concert featuring a musician who has been described as “one of the most extraordinary instrumentalists in the world.”

Guitarist Xuefei (Fei) Yang will play an exciting programme at Trinity Church in Holmfirth at 8pm tonight.

Her programme will range from Britten and Debussy to Bach, Walton, Schubert and the Spanish composer and guitarist, Francisco Tarrega.

Fei was born in Beijing and was the first ever guitarist in China to be awarded a full international scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Her debut in Madrid at the age of 14 was attended by the composer Joaqui’n Rodrigo and, when John Williams heard her play, he gave two of his own instruments to Beijing’s Central Conservatoire especially for her and other advanced students.

Now based in the UK, Fei is regarded as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists.

She has performed at the Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre and Royal Albert Hall and is in demand internationally on the concert stage in the USA, Europe and Asia.

Classic FM magazine names her as one of the 100 top classical musicians of our time and her programme tonight certainly offers a chance to hear her skills tested to the full.

She will celebrate British music, with Britten in his anniversary year and Walton’s scintillating Five Bagatelles, as well as offer the Mediterranean colours of de Falla and Tarrega. Don’t miss it.

For those whose passion is jazz, the good news is that pianist Django Bates is back.

He’s playing at the Picturedrome in Holmfirth on Sunday night (8pm) but there’s a pre-concert talk at 7pm which is another must.

Django will be talking to Professor Tony Whyton of the University of Salford about his music, about the Belovèd Trio and about his relationship with the music of legendary saxophonist and composer Charlie Parker.

For those who haven’t heard the music of Django Bates, its inventive, complex, shows humour and a huge mastery of orchestration.

He’s a one-off and his take on Charlie Parker’s work has won him massive acclaim.

The gig at Holmfirth weekend is the final date in his UK tour with the Belovèd Trio and is ahead of their date at this year’s Proms. Quite a festival coup.

If you’ve never seen Django Bates live, now’s your chance.

And the other music event to flag up comes next Wednesday, that’s June 19.

It’s at Holy Trinity Church, Hepworth at 8pm and features the Heath Quartet.

This ensemble of young musicians was formed 10 years ago at the Royal Northern College of Music.

They are seen as a name to watch on the concert circuit where they are catching many people’s attention.

The quartet is seen as an exciting and original voice on the international chamber music scene. Hear them next week in Hepworth.