THE much heralded new musical festival Tavistock Sings! brought an abundance of culture and commerce to the town over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The pilot event for what now looks certain to be an annual musical celebration was promoted by Tavistock Forward.

Mr John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, said the organisation was supporting the festival as part of the Tavistock Market Town Initiative funded by the South West Regional Development Agency.

?We are delighted with the way the event went. When you have these sorts of concerts people come from a long way away,? he said.

?We are trying to make Tavistock a better place to live in, work in and visit.

?Once people are here for the concerts they do other things as well. We are trying to increase the quality of music and arts as a way of encouraging people to stay at the hotels, visit the restaurants and shop in the town,? he said.

He said they were hoping to have a different style music festival in August to tie in with the Morwellham Quay Jazz Festival.

?We would like Tavistock to be to other styles of music what Sidmouth is to folk.?

Mr Taylor praised the efforts of Tavistock Sings! musical director Simon Ible and said with only three months to organise the event everyone involved had done a terrific job.

Mr Ible said the festival had brought in ?some of the best professional soloists to Tavistock to perform with the region?s professional Ten Tors Orchestra and the Two Moors Festival Chorus?.

But he said it had also provided opportunities for people of all standards to sing in a workshop situation with internationally acclaimed workshop directors like George Pratt.

?It is all enveloping. It is participating as well as listening to music.

?We had 80 people, mostly amateurs, at the all day workshop ranging from 16-80 year olds ? all keen to learn from the best.?

Internationally acclaimed opera singer Sarah Walker was so impressed with the festival that she has volunteered to become its permanent president.

?She is moving to Devon and will be able to bring a wealth of experience and attract national and international performers as well as wanting to support home grown talent.?

Mr Ible wished to thank not only those who supported the festival financially but also the ?fantastic team of volunteers?.

Plans are already underway for the next Tavistock Sings!