THE third and final week of Summer music at Crediton Congregational Church concluded with two rewarding events before an audience of around 50 people apiece.

The first of these was a performance of a single work from the 1880s – a piano quintet in four movements by the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, played beautifully by the Clayhanger Quartet (based to the east of Exeter) with pianist Roger Stephenson from Colebrooke.

Harpist Emma Graham, from Exeter, with one traditional harp and one electric one (with a loop pedal), ended the three-week series with a recital that was as educational as it was entertaining. She returned by popular demand, having played here two years ago.

The series of free August recitals at the Congregational Church is a felicitous three-way partnership between The Music Makers’, Crediton Congregational Church (kindly allowing the free use of the church as a concert hall) and Crediton Town Council, whose generous grant enables these events to be put on with no admission charge.

The audience must also be thanked for their own donations which support the travelling costs and other musicians’ expenses.

The performers themselves have kindly given these recitals for no further fee. A further note of thanks is due to Crediton chartered accountants Stapletons, whose support has enabled the grand piano at the church to be well maintained for concert events this year.

The recitals series were broadened this year by singer-songwriter Dave Wood, who has a warm local following, and the brilliant piano improviser Dhevdhas Nair, who travelled from London to renew his former musical contacts with Devon. Grateful thanks are due also to the other performers Tim Matthews (piano), and Philip Bonser (clarinet) with Margaret Chave (piano).

Organiser Paul Vincent said: “These events contribute to Crediton’s arts and hospitality at an otherwise quiet period of the year. They attract a cross-section of the local community, and a number of visitors from further afield.

"As with all the Music Makers’ events, they are friendly occasions at which musical interests are shared between both players and audience – and they nearly always throw up new discoveries, of either talented players or interesting works of music."

The Music Makers’ events at Crediton Congregational Church are open to locally-based musicians and ensembles in any acoustic genre (but most often using "classical" instruments).

As well as the six August recitals, evening concerts take place on Saturdays at three-month intervals – the next is at 7pm on October 21.

On New Year’s Day (3pm) there is also a concert for young musicians aged eight-to-18. Anyone interested in taking part in any of these events should email: [email protected] .

Alan Quick