ONE of the rising stars of the young generation of musicians is performing at Malv-ern Concert Club.

Ashley Wass is only the second British pianist in 20 years to reach the finals of the Leeds Piano Competition, a feat he achieved in 2000.

That competition has been a stepping stone in the career of many of today's stars of the piano world.

Previously, in 1997, he became the first British pianist to win the World Piano Competition.

He appeared in the Rising Stars series at the 2001 Ravinia Festival, and his promise has been further acknowledged by the BBC, which selected him as one of its New Generation Artists.

His Malvern concert, on Thursday, November 18, covers the late Romantic field, with a programme of works by Brahms, Liszt, Franck and Bax - all classics and some unjustly underperformed.

Wass studied at Chetham's Music School and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. He has given recitals at most of the major UK concert halls and has performed with Europe's top orchestras.

His debut recording in 1999 was a disc of solo works by Cesar Franck and he has also recorded works by Chopin and Beethoven.

Among his current plans is to record the entire solo works of Arnold Bax, and a disc has already been issued including the Sonata No 1, which he will perform in Malvern.

The disc was reviewed in last month's BBC Music Magazine, which praised the "intensity and technical sensitivity" of his playing.

The concert is at Malvern Theatres at 7.30pm, and tickets are available at the box office on 01684 892277.