South Devon choir Voces is celebrating 30 years with a free concert at Buckfast Abbey this Saturday, November 25.

Director Martyn Warren said: ‘Since its inception in 1987 Voces has built a fine reputation for its performances.

‘The group was formed with the aim of singing 16th-century choral music in the liturgical context for which it was written, and still sings several times a year for mass at Buckfast Abbey, its principal ‘home’, but also presents two or three concerts a year at the Abbey.

‘Singers are drawn from a wide area, chosen for their quality of voice and musicianship, making it possible to develop a specific sound and to prepare performances with restricted rehearsal time.’

The celebratory concert programme will reflect the director’s personal choice from music which the choir has featured during its life.

He said: ‘Since the latter amounts to more than 1,000 pieces of music, it has not been an easy job, but I’ve homed in on just ten works, representing some of the choir’s favourite Renaissance composers - Victoria, Palestrina, Byrd, Josquin, Tallis.

‘This is as well as some pieces with specific significance for the choir such as an Ave Regina by the 15th-century Guillaume Dufay which featured in its first-ever concert in 1989.

‘It is a difficult piece, and that performance was not entirely problem-free, so I’m looking forward to doing Dufay proper justice this time around.

‘A glorious Easter antiphon, Dum Transisset Sabbatum by John Taverner headed up the choir’s second CD, produced for English Heritage.

‘And an anthem by Maurice Greene, ‘Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days’ – the only representative of the Anglican choral tradition in the concert – is a personal favourite on account of both the poignancy of the words and the plaintive beauty of Greene’s setting.’

The concert starts at 7.30pm. Entry is free with a retiring collection.