ONE of the region's best-known musicians returns to the South Lakeland stage on Saturday 13th at 8pm.

Former Windermere St Anne's director of music Bill Thomson is back in the country for a brief sojourn from his job as the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music's South East Asia Regional Consultant, based in Kuala Lumpur.

For the recital at the Windermere school's Crampton Hall, Bill accompanies on piano rising young singer and former St Anne's student Claire Booth.

Since leaving the school, the budding soprano gained a double first at Oxford and is now pursuing her vocal ambitions studying for a masters degree at the Guildhall, London.

She has also had a spell on the English National Opera Training Scheme.

Bill studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and Jordanhill College of Education and was a popular and respected figure in the area's music circles for many years.

An experienced teacher and examiner, he was musical director for several societies including Kendal Amateur Operatic Society as well as conductor of the Ulverston Choral Society.

Ticket details on 015394-46164.