Every year London professional cellist Kim Mackrell holds her summer cello school at Hewenden, near Harden.

Then on the Monday the students give a concert showing us what they have achieved over the weekend.

This year there was a class of nine amateur cellists taking part, plus Kim, so we heard an amazing ensemble of 10 celli in concert at Stanbury Church.

They played a wide variety of music starting with a spirited James Bond Theme, through items like Misty, some Bach and Beethoven, and Holiday for Strings.

Musicians amply demonstrated the beauty of the cello and we were all very well entertained with music written specially or arranged for this unusual group.

Three surprise items came up. First, local violinist Sally Robinson played the second movement of Mendelsohn’s violin concerto.

The husband of one of the cellists, Edward Lewis, played Stardust on solo trombone, and a singer performed with all the ten celli accompanying.

Kim also played the piano to accompany some of the cello ensemble items. A very pleasant Monday afternoon, rounded off with tea and cakes by Stanbury Church members. It was a free concert, but a collection was taken.

Jens Hislop