JESS Gillam's Lakeland Sinfonia Concert Society series debut is definitely one not to be missed.

One of the region's - and nation's - rising stars, the Ulverston born and bred saxophone sensation is a truly gifted musician with mind boggling potential.

The world really is her oyster.

Since her amazing performance dressed in her David Bowie tribute jacket in the finals of the illustrious BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016, Jess's busy schedule has included studying at the Royal Manchester College of Music, performing at the Royal Festival Hall with the BBC Concert Orchestra and live performances on BBC Radio Four's Woman’s Hour and BBC Radio Three In Tune.

A recent feather in Jess's musical cap was landing Musician of the Year at the Cumbria Culture Awards; the award was presented by Melvyn Bragg.

Jess is a great ambassador for the saxophone, and first picked up the instrument at the age of seven at the Barracudas Carnival Arts Centre at Barrow.

She makes her first LSCS appearance at Kendal Leisure Centre's Westmorland Hall on Saturday, December 10 (7.30pm) performing Dave Heath's concerto for soprano saxophone, The Celtic.

Fresh from a trip to London performing at Goldsmith’s Hall plus another show with eminent saxophonist and Ivor Novello award-winning composer, John Harle and Soft Cell singer Marc Almond in Canterbury, she said she was very much looking forward to performing with the Lakeland Sinfonia: "I'm delighted to have been invited. I haven’t performed a concerto in Cumbria before so it will be fantastic to perform on home ground.

"The Celtic is heavily inspired by Scottish Folk Music and each movement - there are three - depicts a scene related to or set in Scotland. It is a brilliant piece with very lyrical lines and I love performing it."

Composer Dave was born in Manchester in 1956. He attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he studied flute, and began to play modern jazz at the age of 17. His first work, Out of the Cool, was written in 1978 following a request from fellow flautist Richard Blake for a piece that would make him sound and feel as if he were playing jazz. Although classically trained Dave has incorporated an eclectic mix of jazz, folk, rock, funk into his music and has written for such luminaries as Nigel Kennedy, James Galway and Evelyn Glennie. His The Celtic concerto was originally a violin concerto written as part of The Four Elements. The world premiere was given by the BBC Scottish orchestra. It has a relaxed, appealing and accessible style with a slow movement Lament for Collossie that has a powerful and emotional climax.

On the podium for the December 10 concert will be popular conductor and distinguished musician Wyn Davies.

Wyn is a sinfonia legend having graced the Westmorland Hall stage with the ensemble on many occasions, particularly the memorable LSCS Christmas charity performances.

The highly anticipated evening opens with Rossini's La Cenerentola overture and also includes Haydn’s The Clock symphony, the ninth of 12 symphonies written especially for the Austrian composer's visits to London. The programme also includes Anton Arensky’s luscious Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky and Walton's Façade Suite no 2.

To book for the December 10 concert visit www.lakelandsinfonia.org.uk or telephone 0333-666-3366.