IN-demand musician David Davies, who has established a reputation in the past 15 years as one of the Westcountry’s most exciting organists, will be returning to Wellington later this month to give an organ recital in the parish church.

Mr Davies will be performing at 3 pm in St John’s Church on Saturday, February 21, when he will playing well-known works by Bach, Mendelssohn, and Elgar, as well as some pieces by American composers.

In addition, Mr Davies will take suggestions from the audience for well-known song tunes on which he will then instantly improvise.

Having trained at Eton, Magdalen College, Oxford, and in Yale University in America, Mr Davies went on to hold church and cathedral posts both in the UK and in the USA.

He was sub-organist and director of the girls’ choir in Guildford Cathedral, assistant director of music for Exeter Cathedral, and organist of Buckfast Abbey.

Mr Davies is no stranger to the musical scene in Wellington, and was, until last December, on the teaching staff of Wellington School.

Currently, he teaches in Blundell’s School, in Tiverton, and is organist in the University of Exeter, director of music in Sidmouth Parish Church, director of Sidmouth Choral Society, and is on the staff of Michael Farley Organ Builders Ltd.

St John’s churchwarden Andrew Maddocks said: “Those who come to hear him will be supporting the maintenance and development of our fine organ at St John’s.”

Tickets for the organ recital are by personal donation, cash or card, or can be bought by scanning a QR code in the poster for the recital.

All proceeds will go toward the St John’s organ maintenance and improvement appeal.

Mr Maddocks said: “The recital will be followed by refreshments to which everybody is invited.

“We look forward to your support.”