LAWRENCE Power has travelled the world playing viola but he is looking forward to once again playing in the Church of St Lawrence in West Wycombe. He spoke to Rebecca Cain about bringing top classical music to the area.

Viola player, Lawrence Power, has recently performed at the Proms in London and in September he will take the stage in West Wycombe to play along with a host of other top classical musicians.

He held the first West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival last year and has added another day to this year's event.

Lawrence, 34, said: "It was a really nice event. We have made it a bit bigger this year."

He grew up in Downley and his family still live in High Wycombe. His parents, Carol and John, have helped him put together this year's concert.

He said: "It is just a great way to come and hear some of this country's greatest musicians who you never normally get to hear in High Wycombe. You would usually have to travel to London and pay a lot more money.

"There is really not much going on in terms of classically trained musicians on a professional level."

But he did emphasis when he was growing up in the town he benefited from all the local amateur music.

He said: "In Bucks there is a good system where teachers travel around the schools and teach children.

"I found that way I discovered music through coming to school."

He was a pupil at Downley Primary School and The Royal Grammar School. Outside of school he went to The High Wycombe Music Centre at Millbrook Combined School in Mill End Road, which he said was wonderful.

Lawrence added: "There are some really talented young kids there. It is a really thriving centre for young musicians. I am really grateful for that."

And when I had spoken to him he had just played at The Proms. He said: "It went very well. It has been a busy year travelling around and going to all corners of the world and playing. "It is really nice to come home to family and do this event and make a big thing of it."

The idea of the event started as a memorial concert for his grandmother, Alice Power, from West Wycombe. He said: "I thought if I was putting so much energy into doing a concert I thought why not make it into a more prominent thing. It grew out of that."

He praised the church in St Lawrence as a "magical" venue.

Lawrence added: "It is a really quirky venue in West Wycombe. I really like that. We didn't know it would be such a great venue for chamber music."

The West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival is from September 13-15 at the Church of St Lawrence, Church Lane, West Wycombe. Lawrence will be playing viola and violin.

Other musicians on the bill are Annabelle Meare on violin, Anthony Marwood on violin, Jack Liebeck on violin, Paul Watkins on cello, James Boyd on viola, Simon Crawford-Phillips on piano and Bjørg Lewis on cello. The first concert is on Thursday 13 at 7.30pm, the second on Friday 14 at 7.30pm, the third on Saturday 15 at 11am and the fourth on Saturday 15 at 7.30pm. There is a masterclass for young musicians on the Friday from 10am-12.30pm. The venue to be confirmed. Tickets are £15 (evening concerts) and £10 (Saturday morning). Under 18s free. To book call 01494 528659.

For full details go to www.westwycombechambermusic.org.uk.