A renowned British pianist is set to open a new music season.

Phillip Leslie, celebrated for his "culture and refinement" (The Liszt Society), will kick off the Sidmouth Music season of concerts in the Parish Church on Saturday, October 12.

Known as a champion of British repertoire, Leslie was named a Park Lane Group artist in 2018, joining a roster of young talents nurtured by the group over the years.

His recital will begin with a set of works by William Baines, a little-known Yorkshire composer who, despite a short life of only 23 years, managed to produce over 150 pieces, mostly for piano.

The Seven Preludes, considered by the British Music Society to be among Baines' finest compositions, will be featured.

Concertgoers will also have the chance to view a selection of personal artefacts from Baines' life during the concert interval.

The programme will continue with a set of three pieces entitled Sarnia: an Island Sequence.

The pieces reflect the experiences and impressions of composer John Ireland, who was particularly fond of the Channel Islands.

The compositions recall various scenes, including sunsets over the sea and a depiction of a spring morning.

After the interval, Leslie will perform three pieces from Janacek’s nostalgic set On an Overgrown Path, which was heavily influenced by the composer’s feelings of loss after his daughter’s death.

The programme will conclude with Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, a tribute by the composer to his architect friend Viktor Hartmann following his sudden death.

The pictures are images made by Hartmann, depicting a variety of subjects and culminating in a dramatic presentation of The Great Gates of Kyiv, a fanciful design never actually built.

Tickets for the concert, priced at £18, are available online, at Paragon Books in Sidmouth, or on the door.

For any enquiries, individuals can contact 01395 597454.