LUNCHTIME recitals in the heart of Warrington resume this month – featuring some of the best musical talent around.

The performances take place at Holy Trinity Church, on Sankey Street, and resume after a summer break next Saturday, September 26.

Saturday will feature a festival of young and gifted pianists from the age of five to 18 and there will also be recitals by pianists from the semi finals of the 2nd Manchester International Concerto Competition for Pianists during the rest of the year.

Around 25 recitals are held every year to a regular audience of more than 60 people, featuring some of the best talent around.

Matthew Kam, an accepted entrant into the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition 2009, performed in July.

Among the other young musicians who have taken part is Sophie Cashell, who won the BBC2 Search for a Classical Star series of programmes.

The concerts are organised by WACIDOM (Warrington Arts Council Initiative for the Development of Music) which has also been organising the bi-annual Warrington Competition for Young Musicians for the past 12 years.

The contest began solely for Warrington musicians but is now much more widely known and accepts entries from Cheshire, Merseyside and Bolton.

The competition takes place at Arley Hall between January and March 2010 and the deadline for entries is November 21.

Application forms can be downloaded from musicinwarrington.org.uk.

Norman Cutter, chairman, said: “Several past finalists have gone on to make successful professional careers.

“It was encouraging that some have been engaged locally in the Live at St Wilfrid’s! and Walton Hall series of concerts thus showcasing their talent to the wider community.”