ST THOMAS’S Church in Salisbury is staging a musical celebration – the first concert since its extensive internal makeover.

A Night of Music on February 29, 6.30pm, is going to feature an extensive array of local professional soloists, talented young musicians, numerous ensembles and the debut performance of the St Thomas’s Church “Big Band”.

Drawn from local schools, music groups and St Thomas’s itself, no less than 17 different acts and 45 performers aim to create a feast of popular, jazz and well-known classical music.

Polly Jacobs, the events’ director, said: “It is a real honour and very exciting to be the first concert held in the refurbished church and I really hope many people come to enjoy a great evening of music and celebrate with us.

“It has been a real joy to put the evening together over the last few months and so much hard work has been put in from the musicians and also behind the scenes to create what I hope will be a really special night.”

Entry is free and any donations received go to The National Orchestra for All, which helps disadvantaged young musicians, and The St Thomas’s Church Quest 2020 Appeal.

A Night of Music will be arranged as an informal “jazz café” layout , backed by a specially built bar.

The church re-opened on February 9 after extensive refurbishment. New movable seating, staging, sound system, refurbished flooring and new electrics has been installed to make the space more flexible. It is hoped many other local music, drama and other organisations can take advantage of the new facilities.