Last weekend the College and Cathedral on Cumbrae were hosts to the 8th annual Classical Guitar Retreat. Students from all over the world congregated for the summer school and the buildings were filled to capacity.

The participants received individual lessons from internationally-recognised players and attended master classes as well as contributing to a guitar orchestra. Additionally there were astonishing solo concerts from Uros Baric (Slovenia); Patrick Kearney (Canada); Amanda Cook(England) and Rene Izquierdo (Cuba).

Members of the public joined the guitar students at these concerts, and for a weekend Scottish music lovers rubbed shoulders with enthusiasts from Chile, New Mexico, Ohio, New York, France and Belgium, and for a brief space Millport became the centre of the guitar universe!

On Sunday first, July 17th the "Music for a Summer Afternoon" series resumes its normal pattern. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. ,and though entry will be free, members of the audience are encouraged to contribute to a retiring collection. The soloist will be Jane Guy a much-admired Contralto who has become a great favourite with Cathedral audiences. Her programme will include songs by Aaron Copland, Max Reger and Kurt Weill. She will be accompanied on the newly restored Bosendorfer concert grand piano by Alastair Chisholm. All are welcome.