AN organist's ambition to develop his musical talent has culminated in a concert at a Fairford church.

John Read, 60, organist and choirmaster at St Mary's Church, has written a cantata for a baritone soloist, choir and organ, which was recently performed at St Mary's Church.

He said: "I wrote it in memory of my brother who died last year. It is a musical narration of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

"He was a pastor at the Protestant Church in Germany during the Second World War and he managed to free a number of Jews from the Nazis.

"Bonhoeffer was also a great theologian, but he died quite young by execution. He was hanged in a concentration camp."

To create the cantata, Mr Read used musical influences from different sectors of the church, including the Catholic mass requiem, Lutheran chorales, Jewish psalms and chants and English hymns.

Mr Read completed an A level in music last year at Cirencester College.

"I studied the organ when I was 36 and gained my qualifications. I retired about four years ago and I've always wanted to study music so I went to college," he said.