Culture

Acclaimed classical composer and pianist Tamara Konstantin has wowed audiences across the country as a special guest supporting Aled Jones MBE on his cathedral tour. Tamara, from Weymouth, along with renowned cellist Jiaxin Lloyd Webber and violinist Elly Suh, formed The Three Graces. Tamara has been enjoying huge success with her third album Resilience, which was composed during the pandemic and is testament to Tamara’s belief in the power of music to console, uplift and bring people together. Tamara said: “To support Aled Jones is a great honour and to be playing in such exalted surroundings is a genuine thrill. Jiaxin Lloyd Webber, Elly Suh and I are very excited be involved with the tour and have received a fantastic reception from audiences and some very kind compliments.” Tamara’s inspiration stems from her deep love for her adopted country, and more particularly, for her home county of Dorset. The classically trained pianist grew up in Georgia, and has built successful careers, first as a TV presenter and then as a senior oil company executive. A move to Dorset 18 years ago sparked a return to her early love of music and the subsequent release of three successful albums followed by the current tour. “I love Dorset and feel very privileged to call it home. For me, it’s the most amazing part of England and everything about it is a constant source of inspiration for the pieces I create.” Tamara graduated from Tbilisi Music Academy after learning the piano at an early age and attending a music school for gifted children in Georgia. As a classically trained pianist and composer, Tamara has performed for HRH Prince Charles, and had her compositions played on Classic FM and BBC Radio.

COMPOSED: Pianist Tamara Konstantin and, below, with in concert with violinist Elly Suh and, right, on tour with with Aled Jones

Pianist Tamara walking in the air after successful tour

n St Mary’s Church in Dorchester will resound to the glorious music of Bach, Handel, Purcell and Vivaldi when The Occasional Singers perform a concert of short Baroque masterworks for voices, oboe and strings on Saturday, April 30 at 7.30pm. The singers will be joined by the Soprano Alison Rose and the Tenor Lawrence Thackeray as they run the gamut of emotions from the gentle romantic passion of Handel’s duet As Steals the Morn to the high drama of Vivaldi’s Magnificat. Entrance is free and there will be a retiring collection for Alzheimer’s Research UK

n Mosterton Art Group will be holding an annual exhibition at the Skrym Rooms, Public Hall, Beaminster from Saturday, August 26 until Saturday, September 3 10am-5pm. Admission is free.

n The Bridport Big Band, under the direction of Musical Director Matt Barge, will be performing at the United Church Bridport on Saturday, May 28 at 7pm for 7.30pm. The concert, arranged by the Rotary Club of Bridport, is to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Profits will go to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and other Rotary Charities.

THEATRE DATE: St Paul’s Church in Sherborne

Road to the Cross

Oddments Theatre, a Christian theatre company based in Yeovil and registered charity, are bringing their new production The Road to the Cross to St Paul’s Church in Sherborne on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23 at 7.30pm. Written by Barry Boyton, it tells the story from Palm Sunday through to Pentecost; following the story of Jesus and his disciples as they embark on a journey together through the highs and the lows. Join them through a powerful and passionate story of the message of God’s love to humanity. Tickets £12 in advance from St Paul’s Church Office (admin@spcsherborn e.co.uk), online at oddmentstheatre.co.uk or £14 on the door (refreshments/ merchandise available in interval).

Tickets at £12 are available from Bridport Tourist Information and Rotary club members.

n There’s Jazz In The Village at Frampton Village Hall on Saturday, April 16 from 7.30pm. The hall will be laid out in bistro style with a bar for the event. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s, from Frampton Garage.

n Faure’s Requiem will be played at St Peter’s Church, High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1EZ on Good Friday, April 15 from 6pm-7pm. The performance is offered in the context of an act of worship, so admission is free and all very welcome.

n A free exhibition of artwork by three artists working in different mediums will be held in the stunning setting of Eype Church from April 30-May 8. Jenny Penney creates unique relief-sculpted landscapes of familiar Dorset locations by building up and carving into layers of coloured card. Caroline Ireland uses chalk pastels to create colourful still-life pictures of everyday objects and Naya Downes uses porcelain and stoneware clays to create ceramics for the home and garden inspired by the natural world and the Jurassic Coast. The exhibition is open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4.30pm at Eype Church, Centre for the Arts, Mount Lane, Eype, DT6 6AR. eypechurcharts.co.uk

n An acoustic night will be held at Bridport’s The Woodman on Tuesday, April 12 from 8pm-11pm. Ann & Neil’s Accoustic Night will comprise solos and duos playing/singing folk, blues, country and all things rootsy in the round. Material is provided for all to join in. Formerly Val & Dave’s Folk Night.