ANNA Brigham, from Liskeard, will be playing as a special guest with the internationally acclaimed Dante Quartet at their summer festival in the Tamar Valley — July 13 to 17.

The Dante Quartet, who regularly appear in venues such as Wigmore Hall, delight and engage audiences in the area every year with their fantastic performances, open rehearsals and creative workshops.

The festival culminates with a special concert in which local schoolchildren come together to form the Dante Festival Orchestra, led by the Dante Quartet.

Anna first played in the Dante Festival Orchestra whilst still a pupil at Liskeard School.

After this she asked Krysia Osostowicz, the leader of the Dante Quartet, to give her some violin lessons, and has been studying intensively with her for three years.

Anna has led the Philharmonic, Chamber and Symphony orchestras at the University of Birmingham, where she graduated with a degree in music, and has been awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music next year.

Anna is delighted to be at the Dante Festival this summer, having previously played with the Festival Orchestra in 2006 and 2007.

Two years ago, Anna was one of four guest performers to feature with the Dante Quartet in Mendelssohn's Octet. This year she will join them again, this time as guest violist in Dvorak's wonderful Viola Quintet.

Anna is also helping to manage the festival, and is now the chief organiser of the orchestra which got her involved in the festival five years ago.

She says: 'The Dante Quartet are so inspiring to work with, and it is great to be playing with such incredible musicians so close to home.'

The festival is at various venues from July 13 to 17.