JONNY Lo conducts his second concert with Lancaster’s Haffner Orchestra on Saturday, February 24, with a very special guest in the spotlight.

Soloist for the Lancaster University Great Hall performance will be one of the UK's most respected, and most broadcast pianists on BBC radio, Martin Roscoe.

The Ulverston-based musician has shared the stage with many of the world's finest orchestras and conductors and is renowned for his terrific versatility and depth.

With an extraordinary career spanning more than four decades, Martin is equally at home in concerto, recital and chamber performances and has a long list of acclaimed recordings for labels such as Hyperion, Chandos and Naxos.

Teaching too has always been an important part of Martin’s life and he's Professor of Piano at London's Guildhall School of Music.

Martin takes the stage for Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto no 1, a grand, large-scale piece, for piano and orchestra completed by the German composer in 1858. It was Brahms first-performed orchestral work.

Led by one of the region's most in-demand violinists, Julian Cann, the Haffner's February 24 programme opens with Beethoven's Overture Leonore no 3.

The final piece will be the Sibelius Symphony no 3.

The Haffner itself goes from strength to strength, rising to the challenge of playing glorious symphonic music. One of its main objectives is to encourage people who don’t usually go to classical music concerts. Last year, the Haffner played in Lancaster's St Nics shopping arcade, and also performed to 450 primary school children.

The concert starts at 7.30pm, plus a pre-concert talk at 6.30pm with conductor Jonny and pianist Martin.

Tickets are available on 01524-582394, from Lancaster Visitor Information Centre, orchestra members or at the door.