TAVISTOCK Sings! is the theme for a new Tavistock Music Festival throughout the bank holiday weekend of May 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The internationally acclaimed opera singer Sarah Walker CBE has honoured Tavistock and agreed to support the event as president.
The Gala Festival concert will be held at St Eustachius Church on Saturday May 3, 8pm. Conducted by Simon Ible, it will feature the Ten Tors Orchestra and the Two Moors Festival Chorus performing Mozart?s Requiem. The guest soloists are Lucy Crowe, soprano, Julianne de Villiers, mezzo-soprano, Benjamin Hulett, tenor and William Berger, baritone.
Lucy Crowe and William Berger will also give a lunchtime recital in Tavistock Town Hall on Sunday May 4, 12.15pm. They will sing opera arias and duets from Mozart?s Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute and songs by Richard Strauss, Walton and Britten.
The Saturday night gala concert will also premiere a new work by Tavistock composer Andrew Wilson.
Andrew?s Three Bridges concerto has been inspired by Dartmoor scenes and the movements are titled Huckworthy, Grenofen and Merrivale.
The style is that of Baroque concerto grosso and involves four soloists; two violins, cello and harpsichord.
The programme will also include the passionate Adagio for Organ and Strings by Albinoni, Tchaikovsky?s Andante Cantabile and Vivaldi?s Concerto for Strings in D Major,
The St Eustachius Church Choir, directed by Pearce Richards, will sing the Festival Evensong on Sunday May 4 at 6pm. The canticles will include music by Purcell and Brewer.
Purcell is also the featured composer of the Choral and String Workshop held during the day on Monday May 5.
Simon Ible and BBC Music Magazine`s early music specialist George Pratt will direct singers and players in a series of practical sessions and discussions culminating in a public performance in the Parish Church at 6pm.
The festival director and concert conductor, Simon Ible said: ?This festival is all about singing and provides not just wonderful concerts but also opportunities for people of all ages to participate.
?We anticipate a great deal of interest from local music lovers and visitors to the region.
The festival brochure and tickets are available from Tavistock tourist Information Centre, Town Hall Building, Bedford Square, Tavistock, PL19 0AE. Telephone 01822 612938. Email:
Miss Walker will be attending as guest of honour at the Festival Dinner which is being held at the Bedford Hotel on Sunday May 4, 7.30pm. Tickets for this black tie event cost £30.
Tickets for the Festival Dinner can be obtained by post from Tavistock Music and Arts Festival Office, Kitson Cottage, Lewdown, Okehampton EX20 4QW. Telephone 01566 783138. Email: