A concert held at St Michael’s Church in Bude has raised more than £1,100 in support of Ukrainian families living in the UK.

On Friday, August 19, the packed church enjoyed a concert in support of Ukranian families resident in the UK. The concert was arranged by David Robinson and the programme was performed by local musician David himself at the organ, John Hobbs as baritone soloist and special guest Sasha Canter on the trumpet. Sasha is the winner of the brass section in this year’s BBC Young Musician of the Year and will be taking part in the final to be broadcast in October.

The varied programme opened with a performance of the grand Aria ‘Ich Will von Jesu Wurden Singen’ from Back’s Cantata 147 which resonated through the fine acoustics of the Church. The attention to detail and ensemble balance was carefully observed the interplay between trumpet and voice carefully managed.

David Robinson is well known as a fine organist and he then gave a grand performed Bach’s famous ‘Toccata and Fugue in D Minor’ which explored the full scope of the Church’s magnificent organ.

Two movements from Haydn’s beautiful trumpet concerto followed. The communication between soloist and accompanist was clear to see leading to a musical, lyrical and technically poised performance.

John Hobbs then returned to the stage to perform a joyful recitative and aria from Haydn’s oratorio ‘The Seasons’. A sense of period and style were evident throughout and the audience clearly enjoyed the ‘pastoral’ feel conveyed.

A change of period and style brought the audience to a thoroughly enjoyable performance of Benjamin Britten’s wonderful arrangement of the English folk song ‘The Ploughboy’. The relaxed vocal line blended effortlessly with a flute-like obligato on the organ and the performance was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

This was followed by two short pieces for organ. Here David Robinson displayed some virtuoso technique in two fast and lively pieces requiring tremendous finger dexterity. The reception from the audience was rapturous – this was a real musical ‘treat’!

The programme concluded with a performance from all three artists of the wonderful aria ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’ from Handel’s ‘Messiah’. The majesty of this music was reflected in a performance that combined technical composure from all the performers alongside conveying the true meaning of the lyrics. The interplay between all three led to a musically rounded and thoroughly enjoyable performance.

After an encore involving energetic clapping along to ‘The Liberty Bell’ the audience was treated to a sumptuous tea provided by volunteers from the church.

The concert raised the magnificent sum of £1,102 in support of this urgent and important cause.

A spokesperson said: “Our thanks must go not only to the artists but to all those who worked so hard ‘behind the scenes’ to make the event such a success.”