ULVERSTON International Music Festival opens on Friday (June 12, 7.30pm) at the Coronation Hall with a eagerly anticipated concert by violinist Tasmin Little and pianist Martin Roscoe.

Now, that really is the way to start a music festival.

With another terrific gathering in prospect this year's illustrious line-up though will be without UIMF artistic director and founder Anthony Hewitt, who took a tumble cycling recently and is relegated to watching rather than participating.

"I fractured and broke my shoulder, so it had to be reattached surgically with a titanium plate," explains Anthony. "I also broke my collar bone. Not an ideal thing to happen to a concert pianist."

For the time being cycling's very much off the gifted musician's agenda: "I have to weigh up my priorities, and what is most important to me in my life. It's a pity, as combining cycling and the piano brought me much musical happiness, but my priority is playing the piano."

Anthony is Ulverston born and bred.

He was educated first at St Mary's Ulverston, then on to Ulverston Victoria High School.

From there it was no less an establishment as the Yehudi Menuhin School, followed by Curtis Institute and Mannes College, both in the United States.

He remembers his childhood days when the family had a piano in the middle of the sitting room.

"I thought it looked a little lonely, so I started doodling on it continuously and my parents thought they should set me up with lessons."

He progressed rapidly and at the age of 10 headed to London for a consultation lesson with distinguished pianist John Lill, who described the young pianist's playing as "outstanding." John's encouraging words were the catalyst Anthony needed to take music seriously.

"I was lucky to have very supportive parents who put every energy into helping me achieve my goals, and sacrificed a lot of time in getting me to my lessons and taking me to national competitions."

Anthony says the music of Beethoven has shaped his musical life: "He has always been for me the complete composer. The late sonatas, the symphonies, the piano concertos, the late string quartets, and the violin concerto; I grew up listening to a lot of romantic concertos and ended up playing the piano reduction (of the orchestral part) with violinists and cellists at the Menuhin school.

"Chamber music has always been a big part of my musical 'diet' as I had the good fortune at the Menuhin School to partner some of the most talented string players in the world.

"I learned to listen and communicate with others."

Anthony's first job as a professional musician was a recital at Whitehaven's Rosehill Theatre with one of the UK's best loved sopranos, Joan Rogers.

Fast forward to 2004 - and the amiable and well-meaning Mr Hewitt staged the first Ulverston International Music Festival.

"Artist-led projects became more popular around that time," continued Anthony. "And I'd been inspired by a few friends who had organised their own festivals. As a child I had attended many wonderful concerts at the Theatre in the Forest in Grizedale which had not long ceased to operate as a concert venue, and I felt there was a gap in provision, which I could fill and in doing so bring wonderful music to the town.

"One of the factors that gave me impetus was the fantastic facilities of the Coronation Hall at my disposal. The Coro had had a revamp and was crying out for classical music of quality. It is aesthetically very pleasing, technically well-equipped and has a wonderful acoustic - it's of course a travesty that such a cultural treasure is under threat. Thankfully, the Coro hasn't yet been turned into another pub or flats, and we can continue to enjoy music of the highest quality. The Friends of he Coro are doing much to save it."

Musically, Anthony's recently recorded an all Skryabin disc, and would like to go back to covering Mozart and Bach: "On the other end of the spectrum more 21st Century music is on my radar, and I'd like to commission a new piano concerto to be performed at the festival. I'd also like to try my hand at jazz - my late uncle was a jazz pianist."

Anthony's favourite recording though is the Piano Odyssey CD, which the avid cyclist complied from studio sessions especially for his ambitious Olympianist project in 2012, which raised money for several music and children's charities. Anthony - as the Olympianist - cycled with piano 'in tow' in his BeethoVAN from Land's End to John O'Groats, completing a gruelling 1,200 miles in 21 days.

"The music I chose has no particular thread but was simply pieces I had played many times in public in the previous years and gave me the opportunity to represent me at my best on disc. The connotations with a very happy concert tour of the UK by bicycle make it a favourite, but also because I had a wonderful producer and sound engineer who was able to capture a very forgiving and attractive sound.

"Much like seeing yourself on TV, when listening to my own playing my toes usually curl up. However, on that disc I am able to sit back and relax and enjoy it."

*Among the many standout concerts during the nine-day Ulverston International Music Festival are Ulverston’s rising star saxophone star Jess Gillam in concert at the Coronation Hall on Wednesday, June 17 (7.30pm), a tour de force in classic comedy with Rainer Hersch recalling the brilliant Victor Borge’s piano antics, again at the Coronation Hall, on Thursday, June 18 (7.30pm), and on Saturday, June 20 (7.30pm) pianist and composer Will Todd bringing his trio to the popular Ulverston festival performing Mass in Blue, joined by Ulverston Festival Chorus with John Gibbons conducting.

Box office 01229-587140 or www.ulverstonmusicfestival.co.uk and www.corohall.co.uk/ulverstonmusicfestival.