FOUR professional musicians who formed an ensemble in 2014 will be performing their first concert in the Okehampton area on Friday, May 26 at St Mary’s Blessed Virgin Church in Exbourne.

Gioisca (Gioia meaning joyful in Italian and Isca the latin name for Exeter, where the band was formed) play a wide range of classical music with some modern and comedy elements to their repertoire. Together with an interesting combination of instruments and voice, the group is set apart from other acts and appeals to a wide range of ages and tastes.

The ensemble consists of Claude Lamon (trumpet), Cecilia Lamon (violinist), David Davis (organ and piano) and Heloise West (soprano).

As teachers at Exeter College, one in charge of brass and one in charge of voice, Claude and Heloise started performing together and were joined by Claude’s wife Cecilia and David Davis who was the deputy director of music at Exeter Cathedral until last year.

All are professional musicians working with orchestras and in music and film and after realising that they gelled well as an ensemble the group has performed all over the country and globally.

Claude said the group wanted to break down some of the barriers surrounding classical music: ‘We love performing and think our concerts appeal to all people,’ he said. ‘Classical music has a certain stigma attached to it and we try to take it out of its box and present it in another way.

‘We also have quite an unusual combination of instruments and a soprano voice so people are hearing something quite different. We like to talk and explain things during our concerts and one piece has just a narrator and a violin, so from a children’s point of view it is also quite interesting.’

Gioisca also work with new and up and coming composers and hope to release a CD of their music in the near future.

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