STUDENT musicians featured alongside amateurs and professionals in the annual Martin Read Foundation festival of contemporary music at Farnham Maltings.

Martin Read was a published composer and head of music at Alton College for 23 years until his sudden death in 2012 aged 53. Many of Martin’s works were premiered by current Alton students who took part in the festival.

In this its second year of operation, the Foundation awarded its support to three burgeoning young composers studying at Hampshire’s sixth-form colleges – Ellen Drewe and Joel Knee, from Alton College, and Chloe Beaumont, who attends Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke.

The Ernst String Quartet was ‘in residence’ for the day, offering guidance and performing the young composers’ specially commissioned, impressive pieces. This fine quartet of London conservatoire students inspired both the young composers and the audience alike.

Other festival features included performances by Joseph Spooner (solo cello), Alex Ling (solo clarinet), CoMA South and student ensembles from Alton College.

The Ernst Quartet also helped Martin’s wife, Beccy Read, bring to life a haunting song by Martin which has been recently rediscovered.

The festival buzzed with workshops, rehearsals and two public concerts which featured both chamber and larger-sized ensembles. Taking an active part were two of last year’s Foundation composers one year on – Through the net – solo clarinet (Freddie Hodkin) and Finest Lady – orchestral interlude (Catherine Upfold).

The packed day ended with a rousing performance of Martin’s Mary Rose Songs for chorus and full orchestra. These fun and poignant songs, written as part of Martin’s Hampshire Millennium commission, were superbly directed by David Gibson.

The Foundation’s patron, composer Howard Skempton, applauded the day, congratulated the young composers on their compositions, and praised all the performers and organisers for producing such a celebration of contemporary music.

He said: “I was very impressed by the student compositions and the general high quality of performance by these young musicians.”

One young musician added: “I always find the whole festival so inspiring, rewarding and moving, and I was so chuffed to have been able to play in it.”