For the past 20 years Huddersfield's annual Contemporary Music Festival has built up a reputation which goes way beyond regional and even national boundaries.

Last year The Observer waggishly summed up the town's improbable musical status by running the following headline: Who needs Vienna when you can have Huddersfield? Along with the Proms, and the Leeds International Piano Festival, Huddersfield rightly proclaims its unique festival.

"It's the only festival on this scale in the country," said Maria Bota, one of the festival organisers. Over two decades it has mounted more than 180 world and more than 500 UK premieres.

To mark this year's festival, the 21st, Maria Bota and her colleagues have, in her words, "really pushed the boat out. The programme is exceptionally good this year, our first with National Lottery funding. Last year we sold about 15,000 tickets. This year we expect to do even better."

Among numerous attractions over the 11 days, from November 18 to 29, there will be song, dance, and workshop projects, at five venues across town.

Key visiting composers include the American elder statesman, and guest at the first festival in 1978, George Crumb, Britain's venerable Elliott Carter, now 90, Terry Riley from the United States, Steve Reich, Luis de Pablo and Michael Torke.

Opera North will be performing the world premiere of UK composer Simon Holt's opera The Nightingale's to Blame. Music Theatre Wales is returning by popular demand with Harrison Birtwistle's 90-minute piece Punch and Judy. Indian music is celebrated with the festival dbut of Wajahat Khan and his Indian Chamber Orchestra.

The Nash Ensemble, the Northern Sinfonia, and the London Sinfonietta, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and Hilliard Ensemble, will all be playing.

Contemporary music also embraces pop, rock and jazz. The Steve Martland Band and the Orkest de Volharding will provide late-night Friday entertainment with an assortment of tunes from these categories.

Booking has already started. For Festival brochure and tickets, telephone (01484) 430528.

Jim Greenhalf

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