PENARTH'S Pier Pavilion was the venue for the first ever Chamber Music festival to be held in the town during the summer festival.

David Adams, leader of the welsh National Opera orchestra, and a resident of Penarth, took on the role of Artistic Director and put together an exciting programme of five concerts, beginning on the Friday evening with a sell-out performance by the renowned Endellion String Quartet.

A particular feature of the week-end’s programme was ‘The Magnificently Magical Musical Time Machine’ presented by Lenny Sayers, Principal Bass Clarinetist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. This brought together children from local primary schools and gave families the opportunity to experience just how much fun making music can be.

The final concert on the Sunday afternoon brought together more well-known Penarth based musicians including Lesley Hatfield, leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. A number of people attended all the concerts throughout the weekend and the enthusiastic audiences were full of praise for the high quality of the musicianship and the splendour of the Pier Pavilion as a festival venue.

Alice Turner, Fundraising and Sponsorship Manager at the Pier Pavilion and organiser of the event, said: “We are so fortunate to have such world class musicians on our door step and I am delighted to have been able to create such an effective partnership between them and the Pier Pavilion”. After a five star review from Peter Collins, music critic for the Western Mail, planning for next year’s festival has already begun.