AN afternoon of flute and piano music spanning more than 200 years will feature a world premiere.

Malvern-based composer Derek Smith wrote Winter's Ending to convey the coldness of winter, the sounds of cracking ice and trickling melt water followed by the warmth of spring and it will be performed for the first time at the Lion Ballroom, Leominster, on Sunday, March 9.

Mr Smith studied conducting under Norman Del Mar and composition under Sir Malcolm Arnold, and since his retirement from an academic career he has had time and energy to further develop his gift for composition and arrangement.

As a composer, he entered the BBC Music Magazine’s Henschel String Quartet competition in 2009 and was awarded first prize for his composition of Carolingua - a work for string quartet and four soprano voices which was performed at Kings Place, London.

Michael Blackmore and Sarah Newbold will perform on piano and flute respectively and the programme will also include Beethoven’s Serenade Op 41, Donizetti’s Sonata for flute and piano, works by Dutilleux and Taktakishvili, Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte for solo piano and short piece by Ian Clarke.

The concert starts at 3pm and tickets are £12 or £6 for students.

For more information and tickets, call Gill's Gifts in Leominster on 01568 611588 or go to orpheus-events.com.