MAY I, through your letters page, clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen as a result of the article in the Bucks Free Press dated April 22 regarding the opening concert of this year's Wycombe Arts Festival.

We point out that the keys on the hand-built SK Kawai Concert grand piano used for the Rachmaninov third piano concerto in All Saints Parish Church, High Wycombe, were not ivory as your reporter suggested.

To replace natural ivory, the Kawai Company have developed a synthetic material that offers the smooth, understated texture of natural ivory called Neotex and it is that which is used for key surfaces on most Kawai pianos.

The Kawai Musical Instrument Manufacturing Company have taken their environmental responsibility seriously since 1927, when the company was established.

In 1997, Kawai's Ryuyo Grand Piano Factory became the first manufacturing plant in the piano industry to receive ISO 14001, the world's foremost certification for excellence in environmental management.

In 1998, Kawai was privileged to receive a second ISO 14001 certification recognising exceptional achievement in re-forestation, energy conservation, waste reduction and natural resource preservation at the highly respected Maisaki Upright Piano Factory.

In 1999, Kawai made history for a third time when ISO 14001 certification was awarded to the Marchen Digital Piano Facility.

Garrick Steventon, Kawai Pianos Main Agent, Dairy Lane, Hambleden