We had a fabulous evening at Corpusty, St Peter on Thursday 30th July, where a packed audience were treated to Music for a Summer’s Evening performed by the wonderful Saltmarsh Strings.
The Saltmarsh Strings comprising Freya Goldmark (violin), Sara Longe (violin), Jim O’Toole (viola), and Ivan McCready (cello), performed a varied and beautiful set of pieces ranging from the 19th to the 21st century.
Dvořák – American Quartet
Interval
Sibelius – Andante Festivo
James Bond Theme – Monty Norman
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
Strange – Celeste
Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
At Last – Etta James
Viva la Vida – Coldplay
Ironically as we listened to Here Comes the Sun, the sun was setting, creating a beautiful warm glow throughout the church building and an atmospheric end to the evening, indeed What a Wonderful World.
The quartets’ deserved encore, gave us an uplifting version of Abba’s Money, Money, Money, which was most apt as this sell-out evening generated much needed funds for the thirteen churches in the care of the Norfolk Churches Trust of which St Peter’s is one.
When Corpusty church appeared in John Betjeman`s film A Passion for Churches in 1974 it was a boarded-up ruin. There was a ‘something must be done’ moment during a visit by Lady Harrod turning the church into the catalyst which led to the founding of the Norfolk Churches Trust. In 1982 St Peter’s was taken on by The Friends of Friendless Churches who carried out substantial work to the tower. Through them, and the efforts of a few locals, the building was stabilised to stop it deteriorating further. The roof was repaired and the windows glazed to keep out the worst of the weather. In 2009 the church passed into the care of the Norfolk Churches Trust.
One of the founding members of the Trust, Roger Last, who was in attendance on the evening said: –
“From standing in that decayed and vandalised church in the 60s and 70s to last nights concert being able to be held there is a rebirth indeed.”
We couldn’t agree more.
You can find out more about the Churches in the Care of the Trust here.
Below you will find more details of the Saltmarsh Strings, whom we would like to extend our thanks for providing the soundtrack to what was a glorious summer evening.
Freya Goldmark is a British violinist celebrated for her dynamic career as a soloist, chamber musician, and artistic director. Known for her passion, artistry, and adventurous programming, she has appeared on stages across the UK, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
A Classic FM Rising Star 2025, the past 18 months have been a defining chapter in Freya’s career. She made her solo debut with the BBC Philharmonic and her Barbican concerto debut. In September 2025 she made her solo commercial recording debut with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, recording a new concerto written for her, to be released in 2026 on Decca Records.An in-demand chamber musician, Freya is a regular guest with leading ensembles including Scottish Ensemble and London Sinfonietta.
Alongside her classical work, Freya is also an in-demand session musician for film, television, and pop artists. A 2025 highlight was touring and recording with Britpop legends Pulp.
Beyond performing, Freya is committed to bringing music to diverse audiences. At 19, she founded the Stamford International Music Festival – www.simfestival.com
Sara Longe has won scholarships and prizes for the violin, which she started at the age of six. A graduate from Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she has played throughout the UK, US, Europe, and the Middle East.
An inaugural member of the Southbank Sinfonia, she has led orchestras, and played solos, including at the proms at St Jude’s, Hampstead, Winchester Cathedral and before the late Duke of Edinburgh. She has also played with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, English National Ballet, West Side Story, London Concertante, Camerata of London, Orchestra of the Swan, Oxford Philomusica, City of Oxford Orchestra, Stanley Hall Opera and many others. She is part of the duo Sea Fever: www.seafever.info
Sara performs regularly on television and for radio including the X-Factor and with the rapper Riz MC (Saddlers Wells).
Jim O’Toole is a violinist and violist specialising in historical performance. He studied baroque violin at the Royal Academy of Music and was a member of the European Union Baroque Orchestra, touring across Europe as well as in China and Mexico, and performing on concert tours in the Caribbean.
He performs regularly with the Academy of Ancient Music and Florilegium, and has also appeared on many recordings with La Serenissima including the Gramophone Award-winning Vivaldi: The French Connection. He directs the East Anglian ensemble Norwich Baroque from the violin.
Alongside his performing career he teaches at Langley School and Norwich School. Originally from London, he grew up and now lives in Pakefield on the Suffolk coast with his family.
Ivan McCready, after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Ivan performed for twenty years with the Duke Quartet. They recorded for Factory Records, Collins Classics and Naxos and were voted ‘Best Newcomer of the Year’ at the Cannes Classical Music Awards. The Duke Quartet also toured with the award-winning European dance company Rosas and recorded and toured with bands including The Pretenders, Blur, The Cranberries and The Corrs. They were resident at Trinity College, Oxford, for many years.
In 2001 Ivan left the quartet to undertake other projects including a residency with the Swiss Theater St Gallen Dance Company, performing solo cello and vocals. In the following years he also toured with artists such as Pete Doherty.
Ivan also performs with his daughter, singer-songwriter and actor Ella McCready.
Ivan was awarded the prestigious title of A.R.A.M. (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music), which is an accolade presented to alumni who have significantly contributed to and impacted the music profession. He plays on a cello made for him in 2001 by Kai-Thomas Roth.
