BATON waver Barry Sharkey takes to Kendal's Westmorland Hall podium for the opening night of the Mary Wakefield Westmorland Music Festival on Saturday, May 17 (7.30pm).

A leading light in the region's musical circles, the eminent Mr Sharkey is the highly regarded conductor of the wonderful' Westmorland Orchestra, which lifts the curtain on this year's week-long, music-filled, festival.

"I think that it's good and appropriate that the local large' orchestra should open the local festival," explains Barry.

"Can't say that preparation is any different or even that my perception of this concert is different to any other that we do.

"All concerts put the Westmorland Orchestra on show so a good job has to be done.

"But it's good to be giving the concert in that the Westmorland Orchestra and the Westmorland Music Council/Mary Wakefield Festival are joining forces for the start of the festival week'!

"It also could have a mutual benefit in that people may come to the concert and then realise that the rest of the week is full of music or people who support the festival may come to the WO concert because it is part of the festival.

"Both organisations can benefit."

Barry points out that its more than 18 months since he and fellow Westmorlanders John Upson and Steve Lawrence sat in his lounge at Ewebank Farm putting together the three programmes for the 2006/2007 season.

"With so much music to choose from and only three concerts to fill' it's always a problem - not so much as what to include but what to miss out.

"Many other factors come into play - will the audience like what we've chosen? Will the orchestra like what we've chosen? After all they have to live with the music for up to nine rehearsals.

"Will it be too challenging? Not challenging enough? So far, this season, I think we've done well!"

The Mary Wakefield opener is actually the second concert in Barry and his players' series of three.

Packed with plenty of tunes that stick in 'one's' head, the final fling of the season is coming up on Saturday, May 19 (7.30pm), featuring Suppe's overture Light Cavalry, the Sibelius Violin Concerto and Brahms' Symphony no 2.

Now, Barry's got a real ace up his tuxedo's sleeve for this one - soloist Amir Bisengaliev.

Does the surname strike any chords?

Well, Amir is the 20-year-old nephew of Marat Bisengaliev, whose scorched his way up the neck of his beautifully crafted string instrument alongside the Westmorland on several occasions and is the nearest thing to being the Jimi Hendrix of the violin, that I've ever seen.

"I recall John sitting watching Uncle Marat play a fiendish encore," recalls Barry.

"I asked John afterwards what he thought. I've no idea how he did that' was his reply.

"Amir is playing the Sibelius and being there as he follows in the family footsteps should be a real treat.

"Then, that will be the end of my 34th season," Barry concludes.

"Next season's programmes are all in place and in three months time the three of us will sit down again in our lounge and plan the 2008-2009 programme.

"Doesn't time fly!"

For further coverage of the Mary Wakefield Westmorland Music Festival see The Westmorland Gazette's Leisure section on Friday, March 16, as well as the Friday, March 23 edition, which will feature full results, words and pictures.

Tickets for Westmorland Orchestra concerts are available on 01539-729702.