THIS Saturday, September 21, Inkberrow’s Norman church of St. Peter will once again resound to a 40-piece symphony orchestra – The Inkberrow Sinfonia.

And by now it is very much a local musical tradition.

A spokesman said: "This is the 17th annual concert by this carefully selected group of musicians, comprising both professional and semi-professional players under the direction of Richard Laing, a nationally known conductor.

"Over the years these concerts have raised thousands of pounds for the Chernobyl Children’s Project UK and St. Peter’s Church Fabric Fund."

The spokesman added: "This year’s concert opens with Mendelssohn’s evocative concert overture “The Hebrides”, inspired by the composer’s visit to Scotland when he visited Fingal’s Cave.

"This is followed by Schumann’s ever-popular piano concerto, in which the soloist will be Lauretta Bloomer, an international concert pianist - who also happens to be the wife of the vicar of Inkberrow, Rev. Bruce Rienstra.

"After the interval the orchestra is performing Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony: a perfect choice for this lovely rural setting in the Worcestershire countryside."

The Pastoral Symphony, which was described by the composer as "more the expression of feeling than painting", took Beethoven six years to complete, and today it is one of his more popular pieces.

His is believed to have composed it at the same time he was writing the dramatic and brooding Fifth Symphony, which is equally popular, although the contrasts between the two works could barely be more extreme.

Tickets are available from the organiser, Jenny Powis (01386 792909) or from Inkberrow shop or Post Office, and BLUE in Broad Street, Pershore.