ONE of the region's highest profile visual artists is swapping his site specific artworks in the environment for a tuneful touch of the classics.

Steve Messam, best known for his large scale and ambitious works around the Lake District, picks up his French horn as guest soloist on Thursday, March 3 (8pm) with Sedbergh Orchestra to perform the Richard Strauss Horn Concerto No 1.

The horn concerto is part of the orchestra’s From the Romantic Era concert at Sedbergh's St Andrew’s Church, which also includes Arthur Sullivan’s Overture di Ballo, Schubert’s undeniable masterpiece - the Unfinished Symphony, and Holst’s lesser known but triumphant Marching Song.

Steve - who was the driving force behind FRED, the annual art invasion of Cumbria - is famed for his outdoor art works, including last year’s Paper Bridge and his light installation with orchestral concert at Honister Mine. However, his musical roots go far deeper.

He started playing the French horn aged 11 and in 1985, won his school Musician of the Year competition. His talent could have been further nurtured when he was offered a sought-after place at a Saturday junior music academy in London, but did not take it up. Later, while working as a music and editorial photographer in Glasgow, he was a member of the Glasgow Symphony Orchestra and occasionally recorded with a number of alternative bands, including a session on Pete Townsend’s studio boat on the Thames. Steve moved to Cumbria in 1999 and with the change of lifestyle he stopped playing music to focus on visual art.

In spite of his thriving artistic career, he made time in 2012 to ‘dust off’ the French horn and started playing again, initially joining the Cobwebs Orchestra in Tebay. Although he now lives in Teesdale, he's a regularly among the ranks of the the Westmorland Orchestra.

Sedbergh Orchestra is a community orchestra, founded in 2010 by Sedbergh Pepperpot Club, conducted by Peter Crompton and led by Sue Armstrong.

Tickets for the concert are available from Sedbergh and District Information Centre or at the door.