NATCHEZ — Hearing the city approved a lease for the Natchez Festival of Music at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center would be music to a few folks’ ears.

Mary Lessley, chairperson of the Natchez Festival of Music Board, is one of those folks who are waiting anxiously to hear that happy tune.

Lessley said she submitted the lease request to the city sometime in mid-August.

City Attorney Hyde Carby said he expected the city to discuss approving the lease at the Natchez Board of Aldermen’s Oct. 20 meeting.

The festival previously had a lease at the Margaret Martin center, but that lease expired in 2012.

Lessley said the new lease is simply a renewal of the former lease with one added stipulation.

“The only thing added was, knowing that the property is always up for sale by the city, that we would have enough days’ notice to vacate the property if it’s sold,” Lessley said.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said if it were up to him, the festival would “have a lease tomorrow.”

Brown said the festival has been a good steward of the historic building, and it deserves a formal lease.

“More than anything else, we want to continue to have a permanent place for our major events and space for our guest artists to rehearse,” Lessley said.

Since its debut in 1990, the festival has attracted countless performers to the Miss-Lou, Lessley said.

If the festival was no longer able to use Margaret Martin, Lessley said she doesn’t know where the festival would be housed.

“Right now, we don’t have a plan B,” she said.

Festival of Music Artistic Director Jay Dean said he is hopeful that the lease would be secured soon.

“I have no idea when we will hear back,” he said. “But I’m hopeful we will be able to get it.”

Besides the festival, Margaret Martin is also home to the Natchez Gymnastics Association, the Natchez Ballet Academy and other groups.