PIERS Adams is one of the world's leading recorder players, a much-loved musician who has given the instrument a broad popular appeal through his concerts, broadcasts and recordings.

With a breathtaking virtuosity and staggering showmanship, he's regarded in certain quarters as the best there is and hailed as “superhuman and the reigning recorder virtuoso in the world today," and “in an instrumental class of his own."

In 1997 Piers founded his now world-renowned, trailblazing baroque quartet Red Priest, which has since become the backbone of his performing career, and has brought the thrill of his music to audiences across the globe.

Named after the red-haired Italian priest and Baroque composer, Antonio Vivaldi, Red Priest plays Kendal Town Hall on Wednesday, March 8 - one of the most eagerly anticipated recitals of the Kendal Midday Concert Club 2016/2017 season.

Viva Baroque includes works by Vivaldi, Handel, Corelli, Biber and Telemann.

Originally 11-strong, the present Red Priest line-up consists of four players, with violinist, Adam Summerhayes; cellist, Angela East; and David Wright on harpsichord, sharing the stage with Piers; each are remarkable and accomplished musicians in their own right.

The group has performed at some of most prestigious festivals across the globe and appeared many times on television and radio, and in 2009 Red Priest launched its own record label, Red Priest Recordings, which is distributed worldwide by Nimbus. In addition to the group’s highly acclaimed recordings such as Priest on the Run, Handel in the Wind, Nightmare in Venice, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Pirates of the Baroque, two solo recordings from the group’s cellist Angela East have also been released.

The quartet plays in a flamboyant, theatrical and virtuosic style, making use use of props, costumes, dramatic lighting and other effects. The pieces performed are generally RP's own arrangements, featuring obscure 17th Century sonatas to the most famous works of Bach and Vivaldi et al, all imaginatively presented.

Following on from Red Priest, and bringing the curtain down on Kendal Midday Concert Club's current season of fortnightly concerts on March 22, will be the Zelkova Quartet, a young prizewinning foursome that was formed at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music in 2010, which has become one of the most impressive chamber music outfits around.

Performances start at 1pm with snack lunches available from 11.50am.