The Presteigne Festival in the 21st century is in many ways the natural successor to the post-war years of the Cheltenham Festival, not just in its enlightened choice of first-rate contemporary British music, but in its cultivation of ‘house composers’ who can be spotted browsing in local shops as well as providing the focus of several informal pre-concert talks. In fact, the music of three composers who received their first big commissions from the Cheltenham Festival – William Mathias, Alun Hoddinott and John McCabe – were all celebrated at the 2004 Presteigne Festival.