A WEYMOUTH-RAISED musician will return to town for a special Sunday concert this weekend.

Helen Beecroft, who grew up in Weymouth, is a member of the Signature String Quartet, who will perform in the penultimate concert of the 74th season of Weymouth Sunday Concerts at 3pm on Sunday, February 16 in Weymouth Bay Methodist Church.

The Signature String Quartet will be joined by Daniel O’Brien on cello and will offer a programme of two of Mozart’s Divertimenti (K.136/8) for string quartet and Schubert’s great String Quintet in C major, D.956.

The musicians will travel from the Midlands for the concert.

Helen Beecroft attended The Wey Valley School and Weymouth College, studying music at both, and was a regular member of Weymouth Sunday Concerts as a student!

She was a member of the Dorset Youth Orchestra and says she was encouraged to pursue music as a profession by the inspiration of her Dorset teachers. She gained a place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2001 and there formed the Signature String Quartet with friends almost on the first day of study, which has enjoyed a continuous career ever since.

Helen maintains a busy career playing for ensembles across the UK and, taking further inspiration from her Weymouth days, is herself concert promoter, running early and chamber music concert series and a festival in Leamington Spa.

Signature String Quartet first violinist, Philippa Green, combines a busy teaching schedule with an even busier playing career and is much sought-after as a leader. Second violinist, Hannah Paterson, enjoys a varied career as performer and teacher too. Quartet cellist Michael Nowland teaches cello at several prestigious Midlands schools, and coaches young players at the Oxford Cello School. Michael’s television work includes Songs of Praise and Jane McDonald & Friends with Aled Jones and Russell Watson, with whom he has toured extensively. He has also played for touring shows including An Officer and a Gentleman, South Pacific and West Side Story.

The Quartet will be joined in Schubert’s mighty Quintet by second cellist, Daniel O’Brien, who is also a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and whose performance work takes him to venues all over the country, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

*Weymouth Sunday Concert with The Signature String Quartet and Daniel O’Brien, Sunday, February 16, 3pm, Weymouth Bay Methodist Church. Tickets for this concert will be available on the door – for more details of this concert and the rest of the season, visit www.weymouthmusic.org.uk, or call 01305 770820.