The evening will include entrancing favourites from the ballet such as Tchaikovsky's Flower Waltz and Prokofiev's Cinderella along with Saint-Saens' beautiful The Swan from his Carnival of the Animals.

The programme also features a delightful selection of music through the ages comprising works by Telemann, Schumann, Debussy and ending with a Christmas dance by Vaughan Williams to send you out into the night in high spirits!

Pianist and festival director Anthony Hewitt has yet again assembled an impressive array of soloists for the concert which features the Philharmonia Orchestra's harpist Lucy Wakeford, flautist and Young Musician of the Year finalist Adam Walker, and the critically acclaimed viola player Sarah-Jane Bradley – along with Anthony himself at the keyboard.

"I am very excited that we will have a concert with this unique combination of instruments," said Anthony. "I feel it's always important to come up with something new in a programme, in order to provide our loyal audience with a different musical experience each time.

"My plans for the 2009 festival will hopefully bear the same fruit as we will commission a new work – that's a world premiere in Ulverston!

I also plan to get local residents participating more. In my view, a festival such as this should involve local musicians too alongside our international stars who, without giving too much away, will again be present at the Ulverston International Music Festival in 2009!"

The Victory Hall concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets (£12), can be booked in person or by phone via the Broughton-in-Furness Tourist Information Centre on 01229 716115 (10am– 2pm).

They can also be booked by calling the UIMF local-rate ticket line on 0845 658 8982 or from The Bookshop at the Tinner's Rabbit in Ulverston.

For further details email info@ulverstonmusicfestival.co.uk or contact Rowena Gibbons on 07974 541324.