A RELAXED evening of music celebrating the 50th birthday of Wiltshire-based composer Sarah Collins will be at Salisbury Arts Centre this Sunday.

Sarah's varied career has included everything from working with The National Theatre, London Sinfonietta and Hoodwink Theatre to founding Downton Community Choir and DJing at Glastonbury.

This special evening will include selected works by Sarah and some of her favourite composers from JS Bach to Steve Reich, performed by Jeremy Avis, Paul Taylor, Alison Blunt, Downton Chamber Voices, the Wolfgang Quartet.

Here we talk to the lady herself.

What can we expect from your birthday celebration concert?

I hope it will give people a little insight into me, my music and some of my musical tastes. It might introduce them to some wonderful performers, such as Alison Blunt, the violinist, who has put together a string quartet for me, and Neville Moody, who is a fantastic brass player, as well as great Salisbury based players like Olu Taiwo and Rob Priestley.

You’ve had a varied and exciting musical career. Can you name some highlights?

Where to begin? Sound engineering for Ashley Slater and his band Microgroove. I toured quite a lot with the band, and we used to pick up Norman Cook from his flat in Camden as we headed off for gigs… Working with Jude Kelly and Patrick Stewart at The West Yorkshire Playhouse on a huge production of Johnson Over Jordan, a play by JB Priestley. I sampled Patrick’s breathing to make the sound for the beginning of the play, and wrote a score for two pianos, one of which I played.

Mysteria – an installation piece I worked on with the sublime designer, Rae Smith of War Horse fame for The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.

I have to mention DJing at Glastonbury Festival this summer. It was amazing to be able to dance to The Beat with a packed audience.

I have loved all my work with Hoodwink Theatre Company so far…. I look forward to more of that. I’ve entertained patients at Salisbury Hospital, which was a humbling experience.

What have you got planned for the future?

On the day after my concert, I’m flying up to Inverness to work with Ian Spink again… Really looking forward to that.

What’s your favourite thing about Wiltshire?

It’s these marvellous The Downs I am looking at now. I love the expression ‘up the downs’ It is beautiful and I feel very lucky to live here.

Sarah Collins will be playing at Salisbury Arts Centre this Sunday Tickets £5 (Members: £4) Call 01722 321744 or go to salisburyartscentre.co.uk.