A special concert organised by the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra will help celebrate its musical director’s 70th birthday.

Paul Dunderdale, who is also a founder member, has long had a passion for music and has worked as a music teacher, arranger and composer for many years.

The repertoire at the concert, titled The Very Best of the British Isles, will range from Vaughan-Williams and Holst to modern composers like Martin Ellerby and Adam Gorb.

It will also be an opportunity to hear another performance of some of the Five Manx Romances, written for the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra’s recent 20th anniversary by renowned composer Mr Ellerby.

Chairman of the orchestra’s committee, Joanna Drysdale, said Paul has ’been the driving force and inspiration of the group’ since he co-founded the orchestra in 1997.

Joanna added: ’Paul’s musical sensibilities and knowledge have been a guiding light for so many of our members for so many years.

’We would not be here, thriving and growing as a group, without his boundless energy and commitment - not to mention his dry sense of humour.’

Growing up in Preston, Paul read music at the University College of North Wales, Bangor, later gaining a Masters of Education from Liverpool University.

He came to the island in 1980 and taught music and music technology up to A-level at Castle Rushen High School for 20 years before moving to Ramsey Grammar School prior to his retirement in 2004.

Paul sang in choirs from an early age and took up the clarinet at 12.

His talent for conducting was shown early when, at the age of 16, he gathered a group of friends together to form a chamber orchestra.

Together with Henry Teare and Chris Weldon, he was the vision behind the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra.

His composition Manannan, a suite for wind band based on Manx folk tunes, has been published and he has written extensively for theatre productions and the Isle of Man’s ’Our Town’ feature.

The concert takes place at Peel Cathedral on Thursday, March 19 and is free to enter.

The performances gets under way at 7.30pm. Refreshments will be provided.

Manx Youth Bard Xander Shirtliff is also going to be performing his poem ’Battle of Sky Hill’.

The Isle of Man Wind Orchestra is a community band which accepts all woodwind, brass, and percussion players without audition. The group rehearses on Thursday evenings at Marown School, Glen Vine, from 7.45pm to 9.30pm during term time.