THE 2000-2001 Concert Season begins on Sunday October 15 in the Community Centre, New Radnor at 7.30pm.

The Athena String Quartet, leading members of the Welsh National Opera will give the first concert. Such a prestigious group of musicians will give an excellent opening to the season.

Their leader, Martin Kegelmann was born in Heidelburg and studied at Karlsruhe with Jorg-Wolfgang Jahn and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Yfrah Neaman. He had coaching with members of the Bartholdy Quartet, the Amadeus Quartet and Quartetto Italiano. He worked with the Staats Philharmonic Rheinband-Pfalz and the Hanover Opera before joining the Welsh National Opera in 1996.

Lawrence Kempton studied at the Royal Academy of Music studying the violin with Maurice Hanon and with members of the Amadeus String Quartet. After joining the BBC Philharmonic he became principal second violin with the English String Orchestra after appearing as soloist and working closely with Yehudi Menuhin. He joined the Welsh National Opera in 1996.

Philip Heyman made his public concert debut at the age of 11 and became co-principal viola with the National Youth Orchestra. During his studies at the Royal College of Music he won the coveted Lionel Tertis prize. On graduation he gained a permanent post with the BBC Symphony. He played as sub-principal viola with the English National Opera for 9 years (coming to New Radnor during this time). Since 1998 he has been principal viola with Welsh National Opera.

Arthur Davies studied at the Royal Academy of Music before becoming sub-principal cello with BBC Scottish Symphony in 1977. He has played with BBC Philharmonic in Manchester before joining Welsh National Opera in 1998.

The Athena String Quartet will play music by Joseph Haydn, Dimitri Shostakovich and Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Details of the season on 01544 350301.