Colin Baldy, Maldon Festival's Artistic Director, will bid farewell with a concert at St Mary's Church this Sunday (July 24) before moving to Italy.

Colin founded St Mary's Choir at the end of 2007. It rapidly became one of the most highly-regarded choirs in Essex. Under Colin's leadership, the choir has performed around the world, including in New York, and Malden in the state of Massachusetts, USA.

St Mary's Choir in the Chancel at St Mary's Church, Maldon.

St Mary's Choir has made recordings and sung on both radio and TV, such as on BBC Radio 4's The Now Show. The annual performance of Bach's St John Passion each Good Friday has become one of the highlights of the cultural calendar in Maldon and throughout the county. The choir's weekly performance of a varied range of high-quality choral music marks St Mary's out in the Diocese of Chelmsford.

The choir on tour in Struth, Germany.

Two years ago, St Mary's acquired its 'stunning' new Klais/Hey organ, which has been generating interest around the country ever since. During this year's Maldon Festival, audience members came from as far away as Herefordshire to hear it. It is safe to say that Colin has helped to put Maldon on the musical map.

Colin with the four most recent organ scholars and the new Klais/Hey organ.

Colin told Nub News: "Getting the best pipe organ in Essex built in St Mary's Church was quite an achievement but I am most proud of all the young people we've managed to get involved in music making.

"Many of them have gone onto successful careers as professional musicians. Lots of youngsters who've started off in the choir at 7 or 8 years old have subsequently been able to use their choral experience to help with their university entrance."

The choir in a joint peace concert with the Livinus Choir of Ghent in Belgium.

Locals have been invited to join St Mary's congregation, to say goodbye to Colin at either the 10am Mass or at Evensong at 6pm this Sunday. A 'feast' of wonderful music is promised.

There will be a bar open after Evensong, which will provide an opportunity for socialising and to enjoy the views from St Mary's churchyard.