Away from the festival frenzy of the summer, the East Finchley Arts Festival is an autumnal feast of classical music, with literary readings, opera, jazz, and art thrown in as well.

As a professional musician, teacher, composer, and director of music at All Saints’ Church, in East Finchley, Geoffrey Hanson had long wanted to start a festival before it was launched 12 years ago.

“I thought East Finchley would be a good place to do it,” says Mr Hanson, who has lived in the area for 40 years. “The church was revamped in 1993 and is often used by recording companies because of its good acoustics. It’s ideal for music-making.”

Cellist Gemma Rosefield, who lives in Hampstead, has performed at the festival several times. She says: “It’s so nice to be in London but still have that real support from the community. The audiences are great every year.”

Miss Rosefield’s many awards include first prize in the Royal Overseas League String Competition and the Kirckman and Making Music Awards.

Last year she received the Pierre Fournier Award, which aims to assist exceptional talent.

She says one of her techniques is to tap into the emotions of composers.

“I like to look into the background of a piece — what the composer was experiencing at the time of writing it, whether they were struggling with an illness or a love affair,” she said. “Once you know that it really changes your perception of the piece.”

Before she performs, she tells the audience about the pieces, rather than relying on programme notes.

She says: “Classical music has a slight image problem sometimes. It’s important to keep getting young people to come — I think that’s one way of doing it, instead of keeping a big barrier between the performer and the audience.”

She will play works by Beethoven, Bloch and Strauss with pianist Michael Dussek on October 11.

Giving introductions to music is a growing trend in chamber music, according to violinist Hazel Brooks, who will perform at the festival as part of Duo Dorado with harpsichord player David Pollock.

She says: “It forms a rapport with the audience before you even play, so it seems like you’re performing to friends.”

Ms Brooks specialises in playing baroque music on an 18th Century violin, which gives the music a markedly different sound.

“If you’re familiar with the music, but not that type of instrument, it will transform it for you and often the music will make more sense,” she says.

Duo Dorado will perform a lunch hour recital, playing music by Vivaldi, Corelli, Bach, Handel and Croft, on Saturday.

East Finchley Arts Festival is on from tomorrow until October 19 at All Saints’ Church, in Durham Road. Tickets cost £5 to £15 (under 18s £1) and are available by calling 020 8883 5631.

The festival raises money for the North London Hospice, in North Finchley.

For more information, see eastfinchleyartsfestival.

org.uk