A SIXTH series of Summer Lunchtime Music in Crediton began this week with two recitals by Peter Clarke, a pianist from Torrington, and Woodbury Wind, an established 10-strong group of woodwind players based around Axminster.

The series continues next week and the following week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1.10pm-1.50pm. Doors open at 12.45pm.

Organised by the Music Makers’ in partnership with Crediton Congregational Church (CCC), these 40-minute musical events include both classical and folk themes, and are each performed by a different soloist or ensemble.

Set up by Paul Vincent in 2014, the series takes advantage of the one month in the year when CCC is less busy with coffee mornings and other activities, and when there is a gap in arts provision generally.

An ever-friendly audience is drawn from local residents and those in surrounding villages, as well as occasional visitors on holiday. Word of mouth brought two members all the way from Exeter for Tuesday’s event - by bicycle.

A generous grant from Crediton Town Council enables free admission to all, and includes light refreshments. While the musicians are rarely professional performers, the series has always attracted talented players who are happy to share their music with a friendly audience.

While the musicians do not take a fee, donations are invited towards travel and other incidental expenses.

On Tuesday, August 20, the Exeter-based Obligato String Quartet, which is more accustomed to playing familiar pieces for wedding parties, explores a programme of rare folk music from Norway. This builds on a similar programme the quartet performed last year.

On Wednesday, August 21, two singers and a pianist make up a recital by Quorum, a group of experienced performers who will introduce a variety of English art-songs.

The following week welcomes two new soloists who have never performed in Crediton. Rob Barnaville (Tuesday, August 27) is more used to the folk circuit, and is a guitarist with an unusual percussive style of playing.

And to complete the series (Wednesday, August 28) a young pianist from Exeter, Nina Leonard Savicevic, will play classical pieces from J. S. Bach to Chopin and Debussy. Of part-Russian parentage, Nina has studied at Wells Cathedral School, and is now beginning a music degree at Birmingham Conservatoire.

The Music Makers’ events also include Saturday evening concerts (around four a year) each featuring several performers, and a New Year’s Day concert for promising young players (eight to 18 years).

In mid-September an event for “Advanced Students” aims to provide an opportunity to hear some local young musicians, now leaving the area to study at university or music college.

These events broadly provide an opportunity for locally-based musicians, including university students, music teachers and their pupils, experienced amateur players and the occasional passing professional happy to share his or her music with a receptive audience.

The Music Makers’ also acknowledges the support of Stapletons chartered certified accountants, which enables the Welmar grand piano to be tuned regularly, and also of Hillbrow Residential Care Home for its sponsorship of printed programmes during the year.