DURING the second week of Lake District Summer Music, students attending LDSM’s International Summer Academy featured in morning and evening recitals in various venues, revealing the wealth of young talent being nurtured by today’s leading musicians and teachers, writes CLIVE WALKLEY. Such is the status of the summer music academy that it was attended by more than 60 students from across the world this year.

Thursday’s Morning Serenade provided a performing platform for four young string soloists. Molly Sharples of Wales gave a confident performance of Wienawski’s second Polonaise Brilliante, a technical challenge for any violinist. She was followed by Toby Cook from London, confidently performing a movement from Prokofiev’s second Violin Sonata. Anne-Sophie van Ried produced a very rich, strong tone from her viola in another show piece by Weber; finally, Katie Mazur from Berkshire gave a lovely account of Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.

These young players - all except one still at school - revealed a high level of musical understanding and technical accomplishment. Although they still have much to learn about presentation skills, they all show enormous potential.

The recital ended with the string orchestra, Ensemble Jeunesse, under the direction of Richard Deakin playing one of Mendelssohn’s String Symphonies and three movements from Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances. The spirited performances were full of energy and enthusiasm, a joy to hear and to watch.

The traditional LDSM Candlelight Serenade brought the 2016 festival to a close as older students in the final stages of their training presented works from their repertoire.

The Thaleia Quartet from Japan opened the concert with a movement from Mendelssohn’s fifth String Quartet. The four players play as one and their were many lovely moments in this well-shaped performance.

Next was cellist Joe Butler from London playing Martinù’s Variations on a Slovak theme. He captured the irregular Czech rhythms which are such a characteristic of this work, and showed complete mastery over the technical challenges it posed.

Australian flautist Jonty Coy joined the Maxwell Quartet for Ginastera’s Impresiones de la Puna, a work which demonstrates the composer’s affinity for the indigenous music of his own country, Argentina. The performance was full of colour and rhythmic drive.

Closing the first half of the programme came one of the great 19th Century show pieces for violin, Sarasate’s Fantaisie de concert on themes from Carmen. Japan's Haruka Katayama offered us a dazzling display of virtuosity, ably supported by pianist Andrew Brownell, one of LDSM’s staff accompanists.

After the interval, Rinako Osawa, another highly talented student from Japan, gave an impressive, fluid account of the Prelude from Bach’s Solo Violin Partita No 3.

The concert concluded with the Academy Ensemble, giving a highly-charged performance of Schoenberg’s dark, deeply emotional Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night). Conductor, Kazuki Sawa, coaxed some fine playing from his young ensemble, playing remarkable for its subtlety, tonal beauty, powerful climaxes and hushed pianissimos.

Listening to these young artists working as a team, it was hard to believe that they are still in training, such was the standard of their performance.

The concert was a fitting climax to another feast of fine music that visitors and residents of South Lakeland have an opportunity to enjoy every year during August thanks to the vision of Renna Kellaway and her team of assistants and volunteers who make it all possible.