Voices echoed around Oxford’s Radcliffe Square for the launch of Oxford’s Lieder Festival.

The festival, in its 10th year, runs over two weeks, featuring 33 concerts along with a host of other events.

On Friday, conductor Tom Hammond-Davies led a group of singers for a performance of ‘part-songs’ by composers Schumann and Grieg.

Festival artistic director Sholto Kynoch said: “It seems an extraordinarily long time ago since this all began, but also no time at all.

“I am amazed when I consider how the festival has grown and what it has become in just 10 years.

“There are opportunities to explore all aspects of song and its performance.”

The opening weekend focused on a celebration of Franz Schubert’s music.

The opening day also saw a performance of music, poetry, composition and writing from pupils at three schools at the Jacqueline du Pre Music Building in Cowley Place.

It is the sixth time the festival has put on an education project of this type. Pupils aged 10-13 from The Marlborough School, Woodstock, Woodstock Primary School and William Fletcher Primary School, Yarnton, worked alongside professional singers to create new songs.

Deborah Nind, headteacher at William Fletcher, said: “It was a spine-tingling performance where the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.”

One of the key events of the festival will be a ‘bring and sing’ on Saturday, October 29, where people can apply for a chance to perform songs of their choice in the Holywell Music Room, Holywell Street.

Visit oxfordlieder.co.uk for more information.