ANTHONY Hewitt is one of the leading pianists of his generation. Praise has been heaped upon his playing for its musical authority, beauty of tone and youthful virtuosity.

Next month the 33 year old returns to his home town for the inaugural Ulverston International Music Festival, at the Coronation Hall.

Not only as performer, but its creator and organiser.

Chatting to Anthony before he heads for a French Music and Wine Festival, near Bordeaux, he told me he was keen to set up a piano-based music festival in the town, having experienced the classy and acclaimed Steinway concerts at Grizedale and Marl's former Ulverston headquarters at the Stone Cross Mansion.

Anthony opens the four-day feast of piano, song, and chamber music on Wednesday, June 9 with Romantic Piano, featuring works by Schumann, Brahms, the brilliant Abegg Variations followed by the scintillating and demanding Paganini Variations. Sounds of the Romantic era continue with works by Skriabin, Liszt and Chopin.

On the Thursday (June 10, 7.30pm), operatic arias, duets and Swedish folk songs are billed for soprano Susanna Andersson and bass Joao Fernandez, accompanied by pianist Lada Valesova.

Anthony is back on the Coro stage on the Friday night (7.30pm) in Great Chamber Music Works alongside violinists Pierre Bensad and Yuri Zhislin; viola player Samvel Barsegian; and cellist Thomas Carroll.

And two of the country's leading musicians provide Saturday's (June 12, 7.30pm) festival finale: clarinettist Emma Johnson and pianist Martin Roscoe, including works by Debussy, Weber, Poulenc and Rachmaninov.

Pre-concert lectures by music writer and presenter Michael White start at 6.30pm before each event.

Anthony's family are well known in Ulverston as his father, Ashley, ran the family's chemist for more than 30 years before he retired and his mother Helen is a teacher at Ulverton Victoria High School. Both parents were a big influence on his musical career, especially his mum who made the 40-minute, three times a week drive to his piano teacher at Troutbeck, Patricia Shackleton.

At 14, Anthony took the giant leap to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School, in London, with Seta Tanyel and Louis Kentner. After being accepted on a full-tuition scholarship at the Curtis Institute of Music, in Philadelphia, with Leon Fleisher and Claude Frank, he went on to win prizes at several prestigious international piano competitions.

Among them was joint winner of the William Kapell, in Washington DC, which provided a springboard for concert dates at most major cities across the United States.

Those successes led to many more engagements in the USA and in Europe, and the New York Times described him as an "excellent pianist, showing impressive clarity, fleet technique and a wide range of tonal colours".

Although Anthony has performed on the world stage and experienced the wonderful enthusiasm of Russian audiences (particular the kids), one his finest musical moments was on British soil in 1998. "My Wigmore Hall debut was one of the most memorable. I put so much energy into it beforehand and was so focused. It was a special feeling.

"Every thought I had for months before associated with the concert. It's such a magisterial hall, it gives you a boost."

So as well as making his Ulverston International Music Festival a firm date in the UK festival calendar, what else would Anthony particularly like to do? "Play New York's Carnegie Hall with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Simon Rattle."

Very specific!

Obviously a guy who knows what he wants.

Tickets for the Ulverston festival are £15 balcony; £12 front stalls; £10 rear stalls; under-18s £7 (seats in front stalls)

Ten per cent discount on prices if people book for three concerts, 20 per cent discount for all four.

Coro box office 01229-587140.