A CLASSICAL music festival at a Dorset village is celebrating its 21st birthday.

The renowned group of musicians the Gaudier Ensemble has been meeting in Cerne Abbas for the last 20 years to delight the villages with their performances.

The ensemble, all orchestral principals or leading chamber musicians of international standing, will be performing a series of seven concerts in St Mary’s Church from July 7 to July 10 to mark the 21st anniversary.

The Cerne Abbas Music Festival’s chairman and artistic director is Richard Hosford, a Dorset based clarinettist.

He said: “The Gaudier Ensemble has been spending a week in Cerne Abbas every year for the last 20 years.

“The village and its wonderful church have become their musical home.

“Having been brought up in Dorset I am particularly happy that I am able to bring so many wonderful musicians and friends to enjoy the hospitality and very special atmosphere.”

Mr Hosford has put together a selection of works from 14 different composers and has included a special family concert.

He said: “This year’s Festival includes, for the first time, Tchaikovsky’s exhilarating Souvenirs de Florence and a programme of works written in the USA including Copland’s tuneful Appalachian Spring.

“Other highlights include Beethoven’s entertaining Septet and Dvorak’s glorious String Quintet.

“We always have a very exciting and relaxed family concert and this year.

“To coincide with the Russian theme we are playing my favourite work for children, Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev.

“A wonderful story with brilliantly descriptive music.

“Definitely a treat for a child of any age.”

The festival will also include a talk from Robert Phillip – a musician, writer and lecturer with the Open University – on Musical Nationalists on Friday, July 8.

During their stay members of the Gaudier Ensemble will be visiting schools in the area to promote their music to a wider audience and will also be holding master classes in the Village Hall on Sunday, July 3.

For more details about the festival and timings of the concerts visit cerneabbasmusicfestival.co.uk or contact the festival office on 01300 341518.