A programme of exuberant, joyful music and gentle lullabies will be given by the Gemini Consort choir in St Peter’s Church in Petersfield Square in aid of the Rosemary Foundation.

Choir founder and director Ann Pinhey from Petersfield said: “The choir are delighted to be able to give their first concert since December 2019.

“The choral works will be interspersed with music for solo flute, recorder and flugelhorn.

“The concert includes music by Vivaldi, Handel and Benjamin Britten, as well as contemporary composers Bob Chilcott and John Rutter.”

Ann, formerly director of music at Lavant House girls’ school, took over as a ‘novice’ conductor for Harting Choral Society in the late 1970s.

She went on to conduct the Meon Consort and the Thursday Singers.

In 1984 she formed the small choral group Musica Sacra that performed within a 20-mile radius of Petersfield, giving free concerts for more than 15 years and raising over £20,000 for charity.

During the 1980s Ann was music critic of the Post and the Petersfield Herald.

In an earlier interview she said: “It is difficult being a music critic for a local paper, as you often have to review the performances of people you know. I do have high standards and people are at liberty to disagree with me!”

After Musica Sacra was disbanded in 1999, Ann set up the Petersfield Chamber Choir in 2000, which ran for 13 years.

In 2010 she conducted the Petersfield Chamber Choir and Orchestra performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, which was lauded – and such a success that the following year Ann decided to put on the St John Passion.

All soloists came from the choir and the orchestra was made up of local musicians.

Then in 2014 she formed the Gemini Consort.

Ann said: “It is a group of experienced musicians who all sing and some of whom play instruments.

“The aim is to use all their talents.

“The music performed ranges from the Baroque to the present day and includes music by Handel, Mozart, Poulenc and Britten.

“We love works written by Arvo Pärt, James MacMillan and Cecilia McDowall, and the instruments are flute, recorder and flugelhorn.”

So far, Gemini Consort has raised more than £20,000 for Petersfield’s Rosemary Foundation, “a most worthy cause,” says Ann.

The Lavant Street charity provides end-of-life care for patients in and around the town, and support for patients’ families.

Admission to the concert in the church on Saturday, December 11, starting at 7.30pm, is free and the retiring collection will be given to The Rosemary Foundation.