CERNE Abbas has long hosted one of the West Country’s most delightful music festivals, for years featuring the Gaudier Ensemble, but now scaled back to just two days, 19th and 20th July at the beautiful and historic St Mary’s Church, and nearby Ashton Farm.

Still one of the musical jewels of the summer, the festival, founded in 1991 by Richard Hosford, seeks to present chamber music of the highest standard in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Based around the international Gaudier Ensemble, it brought chamber music from the 18th century to the present day to this historic Dorset village. For the musicians, it was also a break from busy touring schedules.

In its new form, the festival will continue its ethos of presenting varied programmes of music from the established repertoire as well as lesser-known works performed by musicians with a particular commitment to chamber music. .

The musicians will include not only familiar faces from previous festivals but also other international colleagues, outstanding young professionals at the outset of their careers and students who comprise the next generation of professional musicians. Richard Hosford continues as artistic director.

The first 2025 festival concert features the Hyde Clarinet Quartet, an award-winning ensemble of postgraduate clarinet students from the Royal College of Music. Their recital on Saturday 19th at 3pm includes works by Beethoven and Borodin and light-hearted arrangements of other works.

That evening, Gaudier and Friends – an ensemble of violins, violas, cello and clarinet – will play a programme of works by Russian composers including Borodin and Glazunov, as well as Weber’s Quintet in B flat for clarinet and strings, and Dvorak’s Quintet in E flat for strings.

On Sunday afternoon at 3pm at Ashton Farm, the group of Gaudier musicians and friends will delight a family audience with Scandinavian and Scottish folk tunes, alongside some South American dance music.