THE fabulous Royal Northern Sinfonia puts three of its stellar soloists in the spotlight for the final concert of the Lakeland Sinfonia Concert Society season.

Timothy Orpen, described by the Times as ‘a blazing talent,’ has already a huge career to his name, playing concertos at the Royal Albert Hall, giving many world premières of new clarinet music, and performing with an eclectic mix of chamber music, collaborations with singers, a Klezmer band and with the eminent French pianist Pascal Rogé.

For the Saturday, April 23 (7.30pm) concert, Timothy combines with another amazing musician, Stephen Reay to play a unique work described as a Duet-Concertino by Strauss. Stephen only took up the bassoon at 15 years, but his tremendous talent rapidly developed giving him the recital prize at the Royal Academy and a successful freelance career in London. The RNS then snapped him up with an offer of principal bassoon enabling him to return to his Geordie roots. He has been a regular concerto soloist and gave the first performances of new works by Robin Holloway and Judith Bingham.

The last of the trio of soloists, horn player Peter Francomb, has been hailed by many as a remarkable musician. He has played with most of the UK’s leading orchestras, recorded pretty much all of the horn repertoire, played at the International Horn Convention and with many leading chamber music groups. Peter will perform Mozart's Horn Concerto no 4 in E-flat.

Also in the RNS programme will be Mozart's Symphony no 33 in B flat and Tchaikovsky's Suite no 4 in G, Mozartiana.

One of the most exciting and diverse chamber orchestras in the UK, the Royal Northern will be directed by outstanding violinist Kyra Humphrey, an accomplished orchestral and chamber musician and one of the most distinguished instrumentalists of her generation. She has performed with most of the major UK symphony and chamber orchestras and appeared as guest leader with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. She has appeared as a soloist in the BBC Proms and performed in music festivals around the world. As the violinist/violist of the Zanfonia Trio, Kyra was a finalist in the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and the trio performed frequently throughout the UK as award winners in both the Munster and John Tunnell Trust concert scheme competitions.

Since 1998 Kyra has been the Royal Northern's co-leader and has appeared as director and soloist with the orchestra on numerous occasions, performing a wide repertoire. Highlights include several Mozart Concertos, the Barber Violin Concerto and most recently Piazzola’s ‘Four Seasons’ for Violin Solo and Strings. She has also maintained a busy chamber and contemporary music schedule, playing regularly through the year in Royal Northern Sinfonia chamber ensembles.

London-born and a mathematics graduate of Oxford University, Kyra lives in Newcastle with her four children.

Tickets for the RNS concert at Kendal Leisure Centre's Westmorland Hall are available on 0333-666-3366.

There will be a pre-concert talk with some of the musicians at 6.30pm.