FATHER and son renowned duo, David and Simon Ponsford, are to perform a concert Time Stands Still, on Saturday, July 1 in the church of the Holly Rood, Daglingworth as part of the Abbey 900 celebrations.

Countertenor Simon Ponsford is an established soloist and recitalist throughout this country and abroad, and is a well-respected member of several international ensembles, notably the Monteverdi Choir and The Tallis Scholars and is a permanent member of the Choir of Westminster Abbey.

He is a graduate of both King’s College, Cambridge, and of the Royal Academy of Music, where his studies were supported by a grant from the Cirencester Society.

David Ponsford (virginals and harpsichord) has developed a distinguished and successful career by combining scholarship with the highest level of performance.

He is an acknowledged authority on the keyboard music of the seventeenth and 18th centuries.

He regularly performs on harpsichord or organ as a soloist, with chamber ensembles and many orchestras.

The duo have given many recitals together both in the UK and in France.

The programme will include music by the greatest composers of the English Renaissance: William Byrd, John Dowland and Orlando Gibbons.

David lives locally and was for six years director of music at Cirencester Parish Church. Simon was born here and began his singing career as a boy treble in Cirencester before moving to the choir of Gloucester Cathedral.

After Gloucester he was a choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge and then a member of the choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

  •  Tickets £12. Please send a SAE and cheque made out to “Abbey 900 CCDT(A) Account” to V. Ponsford, Ford Cottage, Middle Duntisbourne, GL7 7AR or email VickiPonsford@googlemail.com to reserve tickets for payment and collection at the door.

Concert stats at 7.30pm.