THE EVER popular Cerne Abbas Music Festival is set to return for a 25th year.

Dorset born and educated clarinetist Richard Hosford fulfilled a long held ambition of founding a music festival in his home county in 1991.

25 years on, Richard said: "My aim was to create a festival with an informal atmosphere and the highest possible artistic standards.

"In Cerne Abbas I found both the attractive venue I sought and, equally importantly, somewhere the musicians could be together, be part of the community and perform the music they wanted to play."

The festival was first planned in conjunction with the late Canon Ray Nichols and a small team of villages while The Gaudier Ensemble, of which Richard is a member, took up residency and have returned each year to perform a wide range of chamber music at the festival.

Richard said: "Over many years we have built a special relationship with our audience, who regularly attend the rehearsals taking place during the festival week.

"Teaching and encouraging a love of music are important elements of the festival, which has always included a concert for children, and now runs masterclasses for promising young local musicians.

"Arriving from across Europe, the members of the Ensemble stay with hosts in the village and enjoy making music with old friends in the wonderful acoustic of St. Mary’s Church."

The event is now an established favourite on the South West music festival scene and will this year mark its 25th year with a programme that includes chamber pieces by Mozart, Françaix, Schubert and Bruch from July 9 to July 12.

There will also be a late-night concert of light American gems by Gershwin, a family concert and a new commission by poet and broadcaster James Crowden and Lillie Harris from the Royal College of Music.

The piece for voice and chamber ensemble was inspired by the love and cruelly short life of the French artist Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, after whom the Ensemble was originally named.

The piece is one of a number of nods to the First World War on the festival programme, with musicologist Robert Philip giving a special talk on artists and music of the Great War, accompanied by a performance of Butterworth’s Love Blows as the Wind Blows.

The festival will also welcome, for the second year running, a group of recent Royal College of Music students who will perform alongside The Gaudier Ensemble at some concerts and work with talented local musical youngsters.

For more information about the festival visit cerneabbasmusicfestival.co.uk

Booking forms are also available at local tourist information centres or by calling 07527 528673.

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e: harry.hogger@dorsetecho.co.uk

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