PROFESSIONAL musicians return to a church in West Wycombe this month, with an underlying theme focusing on the First World War.

It is the fourth year for the West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival, which was started by viola player, Lawrence Power.

The former Royal Grammar School pupil grew up in Downley and with his family still in High Wycombe, he wants to bring something extra special to his home town.

He said: "This year we will be welcoming back some truly wonderful musicians as well as introducing some new faces to the festival - Paul Watkins, the world renowned cellist will visiting us again from New York where he now resides as a member of the famous Emerson Quartet.

"New artists performing will include the extraordinary cellist and musician Adrian Brendel as well as the breathtaking Norwegian violinist Marianne Thorsen.

"Audiences can expect to hear some truly unique performances by internationally acclaimed musicians who never perform in this area and all in the awe inspiring setting of the Church of St Lawrence West Wycombe. "This unique experience comes at a fraction of the cost of going to London and under 18s go free."

There is an underlying theme to the programme this year to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

Lawrence said: "The music written in this 1914-18 period has a very special place in history and it will be fascinating to hear and perform works such as Vaughan Williams Lark Ascending (1914), Ravel Piano Trio (1914) and Debussy Cello Sonata (1918)."

Lawrence has travelled the world performing. This last year started with the World Premiere of a Viola Concerto written for him by James MacMillan at the Royal Festival Hall with the London Philharmonic. He has also been fortunate to appear as soloist at the Verbier and Salzburg festivals as well as at the Mostly Mozart festival in New York from where he has just returned, performing with Joshua Bell.

But he said of the West Wycombe concerts: "Apart from the opportunity to perform with some of my favourite musicians and closest colleagues, the thing that most excites me is the response to the festival each year.

"We have managed to build up such a loyal and enthusiastic local audience and that's a very special thing that I take very seriously.

"I'm elated that the programmes each year are well received and appreciated - people seem genuinely excited by the mix of important chamber music by well known greats such as Mozart, Brahms and Bach as well as lesser known masterpieces by composers including Bowen, Klein, Messiaen and Krasa."

He runs the festival with his mother, Carol and said its popularity has surprised him from the very first year.

Lawrence said: "So far it seems that people really appreciate the rare opportunity to hear such musicians locally. "Each year is the same gamble: if we sell enough tickets then we more or less break even. If not, I lose varying amounts of money.

"It's a simple formula but I must say its much more than that for me - I'm fortunate to have a career that takes me all over the world working with musicians and orchestras that I grew up listening to and dreaming of working with.

"However clichéd it sounds, this is a lovely way to give something back to the area that gave me (through local music education) the opportunity to learn the viola 30 years ago." West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival runs at the Church of St Lawrence from September 18 to 20. For a full list of musicians go to www.westwycombechambermusic.org.uk.

Tickets are £15 for evening concerts and £10 for the Saturday morning concert, and under 18s go free. Call 01494 528659 or 07948 897148 or email tickets@westwycombechambermusic.org.uk.