CONCERTS in the West, the musical charity which promotes rising stars of the chamber music world, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025. The first concert series of the year, on 14th and 15th February, brings the period instrument quartet Ensemble Hesperi to Bridport Arts Centre, Ilminster Arts Centre and the Dancehouse at Crewkerne.

Ensemble Hesperi, an innovative London-based period ensemble with a reputation for showcasing baroque music through intelligent, research-led programming, is Magdalena Loth-Hill, baroque violin, Mary-Jannet Leith, recorders, Florence Petit, baroque cello, and Thomas Allery, harpsichord. They will be performing at Bridport Arts Centre on Friday 14th at the usual coffee concert at 11.30am, at Ilminster Arts Centre that evening at 7.30 and at Crewkerne Dancehouse on Saturday, also at 7.30.

Concerts in the West is a small but energetic arts charity, which organises and promotes an annual series of classical and baroque concerts at venues in Somerset and Dorset. The charity is directed by its founder, Catherine Maddocks, and run by a small group of trustees.

Catherine recalls: “Concerts in the West was launched in 2006 when I was asked if I would like to organise a concert in Ilminster as there was no classical music being performed locally at the time. As I was very new to the town it seemed like a good way to meet people and so it proved!

“One concert quickly became four in the first year with Lyme Regis joining in. We have continued inviting young professional musicians to perform for us as they are embarking on a difficult and demanding career. When we started Concerts in the West I was still festival director of the London Handel Festival, from which I retired in June 2016. Working with very fine musicians in London, I was determined to have a very high standard of performance in the West Country.

“The musicians, all of whom are trained to at least postgraduate level, find the tours quite useful in embedding repertoire and working towards recordings or a big concert in London or elsewhere.

“We are a small charity and, as with many arts organisations, have to work hard on the finances and fundraising. We are very grateful to those who support us and without whom we would not survive!

The schedule for this 20th anniversary year is:
14th-15th March – Alasdair Beatson, piano (Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne)
11th-12th April – Mikeleiz-Zucchi Duo (Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne)
9th-10th May – Trio Anima (Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne)
27th-28th June – Mathis Rochat, viola and Erdem Mısırlıoğlu, piano (Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne)
11th-12th July – Colin Scobie, violin and Jâms Coleman, piano (Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne)
26th-27th September – Mitsu Trio (Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne)
24th-25th October – Voice (Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne)
28th-29th November – Consone Ensemble (Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne)

For further information about the 2025 concert series, visit www.concertsinthewest.org