TWO accomplished musicans get together to raise the roof with songs in St Oswald's church, Askrigg, next weekend to raise money for the sister church St Matthew's, at Stalling Busk, near Semerwater.

Soprano, Anna Belward, who spent eight years of her childhood at Carr End, near Stalling Busk, hopes the concert will bring in much-needed money for her parents' local church.

She will be accompanied by pianist,. David Bowman, in a concert of songs by Brahms, Mozart, Faur, Schubert, Gershwin and Cole Porter.

Educated at Queen Mary's school in North Yorkshire, where her enthusiasm for music and drama were evident from a young age, Miss Belward went on to study voice at Trinity college, London, and then gave recitals around North Yorkshire, including performing for Yorkshire Wildlife in Ripon cathedral and at OMH Young Musicans series in Helmsley.

She now combines a career in radio with singing as often as possible, and is continuing to train with Janet Briggs, in Durham. For the past two years she co-presented the Breakfast Show for TFM and now has her own evening show which she really enjoys, especially as she does not have to get up at 4am any more, and where she is known as Anna B.

With a busy working life, her first priority is to her husband, Stephen, and their lively two-year-old, Janine, and baby girl, Zara.

Pianist, David Bowman, is an accomplished musician who trained at the university of Manchester, Royal Northern College of Music and Magdelene college, Cambridge.

He was director of music at Ampleforth college for 20 years and chief examiner for A-level music for the London Examinations Board. He is also the author of four best-selling textbooks for GCSE A-level music and editor of the London Anthology of Music.

Miss Belward said she felt extremely fortunate to have someone with so much talent playing for her. As well as his work, he has a family plus four horses and two dogs to tend.

The concert is on Saturday, November 11 (7.30) in St Oswald's church, Askrigg. Tickets are £4, available at the door.