The Martin Read Foundation annual festival of contemporary music came home to Alton with “a great day, abuzz with creativity, talent, friendship and fun.”

A spokesman for the May 7 event said: “All great composers studied with others who were more established, and this is something the Martin Read Foundation aims to provide in its support for young composers – offering specialist provision from national figures, at a local level.

“Another aim is to explore and communicate contemporary music with musicians from across the community – amateur, professional and student.”

After three successful years at Farnham Maltings, Alton College welcomed the festival home, to where Martin Read inspired countless young musicians during his 23 years as head of music.

In residence were the Broncano-Mnich Duo (clarinet and piano) and Joseph Spooner (cello).

In the first of two concerts, they gave inspiring premieres of works commissioned from the student composers who were selected by the Foundation 2017 for its support: Oren, Sam, Owen, Lavender and Ryan. Alton deputy mayor Dean Philips presented certificates to these five young composers.

Owen Russell, a student at South Downs College, wrote: “A huge thanks for all of the help the Foundation has given me - it has made a massive difference to me as a composer, and has inspired me to continue writing.”

Joseph also performed a work by Ellen Drewe, Martin Read Foundation alumna 2016, whose Foundation commission was short-listed for BBC Young Composer of the year. Rebeca Omordia (piano) joined Joseph in sumptuous works by John Ireland, Eric Fogg and Matthew Taylor, who is also one of the Foundation’s mentors.

The afternoon finished with Broncano-Mnich Duo performing lively, at times experimental, pieces by Widmann and Milhaud.

After picnics in the warm spring sunshine, the audience were treated to performances from scratch of a highly unusual flavour – Martin’s political ‘Squeaking and Honking’ (2003) for big band and strings, with voice samples from speeches by American presidents, particularly topical in this the time of Trump; Michael Nyman’s infectious score for the ‘Draughtsman’s Contract’, and Martin’s ‘Hampshire Folksong’ (2000) for chorus and jazz group, confirming the homecoming.

C0MA South performed gems for flexible ensemble by Nyman, Kulenty and Harvey. There were premieres by two of Martin’s ex-students, dedicated to him: Andy Light’s ‘Thank You’, performed by percussionists from Eggar’s and Alton College with great vitality, and Gwyneth Herbert’s exquisite ‘Letter Song for Martin – More of Everything’. John Taverner’s stunning spiritual work for chorus and solo cello, ‘Svyati’, saw Joseph sitting appropriately on a podium and the audience reduced to concentrated silence for the final stratospheric notes.

In congratulating everyone who took part for making the Martin Read Foundation “such a memorable festival”, the organisers expressed special thanks to Joseph Spooner (cello and trustee), David Gibson (conductor), and Beccy Read (trustee), for “one of the best events ever”.

And they added: “It is inspiring to witness the foundation growing year on year. The Martin Read Foundation truly is the platform for the continuation of Martin’s musical energies and passions.”