ACCLAIMED Chinese pianist Mei-Ting Sun has performed in many of the world's greatest concert halls.

After winning several major competitions, including the first Piano-e competition and the National Chopin Competition in the United States, Mei-Ting's career has propelled him to Latin America, Asia and Europe, playing venues such as Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, Zurich's Tonhalle, Obecni Dum at Prague, and across the US with dates at the Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York.

Highly regarded for his stunning performances, a colossal technique and vivid musical imagination, he has collaborated with umpteen leading orchestras from across the world and next week is one of the star turns in the exciting Brahms Oktoberfest, staged at Ulverston Parish Church.

Running from next Wednesday to Saturday, October 25-28, the mini festival of six concerts, which includes a celebration and veritable voyage through the complete piano works of the great Johannes Brahms, has been put together by distinguished Ulverston born and bred pianist Anthony Hewitt, artistic director of Ulverston International Music Festival and one of the UK's finest piano players.

Mei-Ting is the first in the festival spotlight on the Wednesday (7.30pm) performing Brahms' Sonata no 1 in C plus other pieces including Variations on a theme by R Schumann.

Thursday's lunchtime concert (1pm) sees Anthony joined at the piano for a duet by another world class player, Martin Roscoe, a sublime soloist and recording artiste, well-known for his versatility and equally at home in concerto, recital and chamber performances.

Thursday evening's (7.30pm) programme sees Mei-Ting return to the piano stool for Variations on an original theme, op 21 no 1, Variations on a Hungarian Song, op 21 no 2 and more.

Friday lunchtime (October 27, 1pm) Mei-Ting duets with Anthony - performing among other items, Brahms' Souvenir de la Russie, published before 1852 as op 151 under the pseudonym GW Marks - with Martin Roscoe in the parish church spotlight in the evening (7.30pm) in a programme that includes Sonata no 3 in F minor, 2 Rhapsodies, op 79, 3 Intermezzos, op 117 and 7 Fantasies, op 116.

Anthony concludes the princely pianistic gathering on Saturday (7.30pm) with several Brahms pieces and Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel.

Anthony says that Brahms Oktoberfest will feature some of the most beautiful and moving works in the genre: "Brahms’s era stood at a crossroads between the Classical and Romantic periods, where music became a vehicle for the expression of personal feelings and ideas.

"The youthful vigour, grandeur and confidence - trademarks of his early works - are far removed from the delicacy, intimacy and vulnerability of the later piano pieces. He took a leaf out of Beethoven’s book in the use of form and tonality, albeit with his own unmistakable blueprint of intoxicating harmonies and enriched textures.

Brahms frequently revised his works, meticulously refining them over long periods of time. Schubert churned out music at an astonishing rate in only 15 years. Brahms far outlived his predecessor, but wrote less. Hence, we can fit all his solo piano works into four recitals, and throw in the four hand works for good measure to complete the cycle.

Tickets are available by telephone on 07719-186145, via www.ulverstonmusicfestival.co.uk or at the door.