THE past 750 years of music will be celebrated in a concert featuring the musicians of the Bere peninsula on Friday, September 19 at 7.30pm in St Andrew's Church, Bere Ferrers. Bere Ferrers parish is celebrating its 750th year and a number of special events will be marking the anniversary.

The concert will trace the history of music, from plainsong to Simon and Garfunkel and Abba, and special guest will be local tenor Tyrone Piper, who won a radio talent competition last year and who tomorrow is taking part in a Masterclass concert in London with international tenor Jose Cura. At the Bere Ferrers concert, Tyrone will be performing operatic arias by Mozart, Donizetti and Verdi and, on a lighter note, by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Other local musicians taking part include female singing group Tutte Voci with a variety of songs including madrigals and songs from World War II and the 1960s, organist David Crocker, the shanty singers The Tavy Tars, Squandered Youth, a group of musicians specially formed to perform instrumental music from the 1300s to the 1600s, Tim Hampson on the harp, piano duets by Lesley Wright and Ann Parsons and the St Andrew's Singers with a medley of spirituals.

Tickets, price £5, are available from the Pharmacy in Bere Alston and from Margaret's Hairdressing in Bere Ferrers, contact number 01822 840380. Proceeds are in aid of St Andrew's Church.