FRIENDS of the Ulverston International Music Festival held a warm-up event to publicise Beethoven Fest.

The forthcoming festival to celebrate the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven 250 years ago will present the composer's towering genius in the field of classical music to audiences in Ulverston.

The festival is to starts on Thursday, March 26 at Ulverston Parish Church when we will see Ulverston International Music Festival present a Beethoven Miscellany with Anthony Hewitt on piano, our own international music star.

Later that evening at the church. esteemed pianist and professor Julian Jacobson will give a lecture recital, sharing insights into some of Beethoven's lesser performed works including the Polonaise Op. 89.

A Friday feast of festival piano sonatas will be presented by Anthony Hewitt and the students of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire when the complete collection of Beethoven’s piano sonatas will be performed, starting at 11am and due to close at 11.30pm! More than 12 hours of music composed by the classical giant.

Saturday, March 28 will see Beethoven's legacy celebrated by violinist Usha Kapoor and pianist Edward Leung.

Closing the festival on Sunday, March 29 will be an afternoon concert at Ulverston Parish Church by Adrian Brendel, cello, and John Thwaites, piano.

The Friends of Ulverston International Music Festival help to support the festival's work. You can join them and donate to gain benefits for ticket applications or even right up to sponsoring a concert.

This year's Ulverston International Music Festival will be presented from June 19 to 27 at various venues around Ulverston and the Furness area.

The Friends also help to run several other events such as specialist teaching courses and wonderful presentations that you might catch in the top music venues of the world.

Pianist and festival founder Anthony Hewitt said he had "spent three months of requesting appearances" to ensure this year's summer festival will be better than ever.

To find out more, visit the website at www.ulverstonmusicfestival.co.uk or search for #Beethoven250 Fest.

Do not miss this fantastic series of world-class events to be held on our doorstep!