The Swindon Recital Series comes of age this season kicking off its 21st anniversary with artistic director, Paul Turner, performing a concert of Broadway melodies.

The lunchtime recital, by the town’s own concert pianist, is on Wednesday, September 10 at the Wyvern Theatre at 1.05pm.

The patron of the recital series is BAFTA nominee and Grammy award winner, solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie. Evelyn was featured in the opening ceremony of the Deaf Olympics in Taipei in 2009 and she took a lead role in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics leading 1,000 drummers for the world premiere of And I Will Kiss. It was also Evelyn’s new instrument called the Glennie Alulphone that accompanied the lighting of the Olympic flame.

She has appeared on various TV shows, including her own, she performs on radio and also collaborates with musicians of all genres including DJ Yoda and The Beat Boxer Shlomo.

Evelyn and Paul have a united goal in encouraging the next generation through advice and guidance, and both have a strong passion for introducing the man in the street to the delights of classical music.

Paul said: “Whether you are a seasoned classical music lover or at a concert for the first time, you will always feel welcome and never out of place at our recitals.’’

This season Paul has pulled in a star-studded line-up with the Heath Quartet sky rocketing into Swindon on bonfire night, following their debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Also singing that night will be Nigel Cliffe, baritone with the Royal Opera House. The concert is a commemoration of the centenary since the beginning of the First World War and the songs will be based on family letters sent from the front by Private Joe Wood, Nigel’s great uncle. There is also a celebrity concert featuring clarinettist David Campbell in the spring.

Paul said: “For me one of the greatest pleasures of being the Artistic Director of the Swindon Recital Series is the process of choosing a fresh programme of events.’’ The series of chamber music concerts is closely associated with The Music Of Renown Ensemble, MORE, a group of professional musicians who support the Swindon project.

“MORE give us an amazingly talented pool of international players, especially chosen not just for their great talent but also their ability to communicate. We are fortunate indeed for their enthusiasm and loyalty,’’ said Paul.

The classical music series is backed by Swindon Borough Council through a grant from the McDermott Memorial Concert Fund but it was originally the Countess of Munster Musical Trust that gave Paul’s dream the chance of coming true.

Paul said: “My aim is always primarily to entertain but I also want a series which has a wide variety of musical styles, instruments and personalities.’’ The first lunchtime concert will see Paul perform songs from Carousel, Sound of Music, The King and I, West Side Story and many other Broadway shows. Tickets are £5 or £8.50 with tea and cakes, from 01793 524 481 .