HAY-ON-WYE, known the world over for second-hand books and a certain literary festival, is also in tune with a growing number of music lovers.

The first strains of Hay Music sounded in 2011 when a devotee set about bringing the highest quality chamber music to the town. Since then, retired doctor John Stark and his wife, Gwen, who moved to the area in the 1990s, have mustered 800 concerts featuring world-renowned musicians, and now preparations are well underway for the fourth annual Hay Chamber Music Festival.

“When we moved to Hay eight years ago we thought the only thing it lacked was serious music,” said John. Thanks to some judicious networking coupled with generous hospitality for appearing musicians, Hay Music now organises sell-out concerts every month. This year’s three-day festival, from April 27 – 29, promises performances from Britain’s premier Fitzwilliam String Quartet, an ensemble formed nearly 50 years ago and congratulated by Shostakovich in 1972 for its “superlative performance” of the composer’s thirteenth quartet.

The festival programme will also include the Dragonfly Ensemble, Anna Tilbrook and members of Sinfonia Cymru, all top quality musicians who will be playing in the intimate surrounds of Richard Booth’s Book Shop or in St Mary’s Parish Church with its perfect acoustics.

Organisers still feel bemused that “little Hay” can attract musicians of such high calibre. John’s ambition to bring the best classical chamber music to Hay at modest ticket prices was achieved by attracting young, highly qualified ‘new generation’ artists in the early stages of their careers. He has also persuaded well-known professional musicians to play at Hay – adding the internationally renowned baroque violinist Rachel Podger to the list was certainly another feather in their caps.

“John has done a wonderful job,” says Gwen, though her husband pays tribute to the excellent fare his wife provides for the visitors. The popularity of Hay Music, and the festival, has grown largely by word of mouth. “It’s all very informal,” John explains.

“The musicians actually prefer playing here than say the Royal Festival Hall where they would receive a much greater fee,” he says. “Here they can meet their audience, people stop and chat after the concerts. We look after them and they come back as friends.”

The couple have high praise for American businesswoman Elizabeth Haycox who offered the upper storey of Richard Booth’s Bookshop for performances. Says John: “The wonderful Elizabeth arranges pre-concert drinks and suppers.” He also praises her husband, Paul Greatbatch, who chairs the board of Hay Music Trust. “They are enormous allies.”

Hay Music has an additional home in nearby Dorstone where Michael and Mary Hession provide not only performing space but also use of their grand piano. Recitals have also been held in Hay Castle and Talgarth Mill.

*For more information about Hay Music and Hay Chamber Music Festival go to www.haymusic.org or get tickets at Richard Booth’s Bookshop.