TO THOSE who loved her, the death of Bournemouth musician Patricia Bonelli was sad enough.

But the loss to local music has touched even more lives. Which is why her friends are organising a special concert in celebration of her life and her achievements to say an uplifting musical goodbye.

Entitled La Gioia della Musica – The Joy of Music - the concert will feature a host of operatic singers and pieces.

It will include some of Patricia's favourite opera choruses, including the Grand Chorus from Aida and the Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana, performed by the South Wessex Opera Company under Musical Director, Jonathan Prentice.

There will be opera solos from Jonathan Prentice and Jon Andrew, and violin solos from both Piotr Kopec and Elisabeth Bonelli, Patricia’s daughter.

Her friend, Pam Baker said: "The Spectrum Palm Court Trio, for whom Patricia played piano, will be recapturing the elegance of a bygone age with some of their distinctive music but the main work of the evening will be the Saint Saëns Oratorio de Noël, accompanied by Chris Dowie on the organ and a string quartet led by Piotr Kopec."

This oratorio was performed in 2006 by the South Wessex Opera Company under the baton of Severino Zannerini, a friend of Patricia and her husband Alessandro, said Pam. "It had been Patricia’s wish to perform this once more as her “swansong” so we offer this performance in memory of a very special musician and friend who was an inspiration to all," she said.

Patricia was involved in music all her life – playing in competitions and concerts with her twin sister Anita in their home city of Dublin, later touring the USA as a flute soloist and subsequently living for many years in Italy, where she was principal flute of the Teatro Verdi di Trieste.

After moving to Bournemouth in 1994 she continued to teach flute and piano and was the organist for 20 years at the Church of Our Lady Immaculate in Westbourne.

She also accompanied singers at the Bournemouth Music Competitions Festival as well as in concerts around the area – from lunch-time affairs in local churches, through local theatres, to outdoor events such as the Milford on Sea Music Festival.

"Her great love was always Grand Opera so she derived much pleasure from being Musical Director of the South Wessex Opera Company for nearly 20 years, putting on operas such as Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni and, more recently, operettas including Gypsy Love by Franz Lehar and Merrie England by Edward German," said Pam.

*The concert takes place at St Ambrose Church, West Cliff Road, Westbourne, on Sunday September 30 at 7pm. Tickets are available at £10 from Pam Baker on 01202 623299 or on the door. All profits will go to Patricia’s chosen charities.