ONE of a new generation of classical musicians, Vanessa-Mae has helped make it a vibrant and modern art form with a combination of wonderful talent and sheer style.

Vanessa-Mae is one of the stars of this year's Ross Festival line-up, her appearance having already forced organisers to schedule an extra date to try and keep up with demand.

She will be performing a rock orientated programme next Friday, which is already a sell-out, with the extra date scheduled for the following night, Saturday, August 18.

The Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter is able to offer readers a last chance to see her concert on Saturday by offering five pairs of tickets worth a total of £250.

There is additional local interest in that extra members of the Malvern-based English Symphony Orchestra will be backing Vanessa-Mae.

Now aged 22, Vanessa-Mae was a child prodigy who recorded three classical albums between the age of 11 and 13. Her discography is a mixture of classical, including The Original Four Seasons and China Girl, and pop, in the shape of The Violin Player and Storm. Her last tour, Storm on World Tour, visited more than 35 countries with performances at venues like The Kremlin in Moscow and stadiums in Beijing and Shanghai. In Buenos Aires she joined The Backstreet Boys for an impromptu concert.

She has also filmed her own silent movie, based on music from The Original Four Seasons, and collaborated with Walt Disney on the soundtrack for Mulan. She made her acting debut in Arabian Nights screened in the UK last year and has also found time for a catwalk debut at Paris fashion week for Jean-Paul Gaultier.

To win one of the five pairs of tickets readers need to answer the following:

Vanessa-Mae recorded The Four Seasons but who composed it?

A: Beethoven, B: Vivaldi or C: Handel.

Send your answer, with your name, address and daytime telephone number, to Vanessa-Mae Competition, the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter, Promotions Department, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX or drop it into our offices at Broads Bank, Malvern. The winners will be notified by telephone on Wednesday, August 15 and your answers must have been received by first post that day. Normal Newsquest (Worcester) Ltd rules apply.

There are still some tickets left for the Saturday if you are not lucky. Call the box office on 01989 563330 for details.

Festival Diary

muSIC, literary and comedy stars from across the globe will converge on Ross-On-Wye this week for the opening of the Ross International Festival.

More than 30 acts will be appearing over 11 days. Among them are chart toppers Atomic Kitten and The Honeyz, seasoned performers Joan Armatrading, Lulu and Van Morrison, UK hip-hop pioneers Mark B & Blade, gospel stars Helen Shapiro and the Blind Boys of Alabama and fabled country singer Billie Joe Spears.

Irish rockers Hothouse Flowers appear on Sunday, August 26, Feeder play on Thursday, August 23 and Britpop stalwarts The Bluetones appear with Catch 23 on Saturday, August 25.

As well as the festival's musical events there will be a large selection of plays, drama, poetry and literary events. Among those appearing are Alistair McGowan performing a mix of poetry and impressions and Labour politician Lord Roy Hattersley, who will give a lunchtime talk on his book A Yorkshire Boyhood.

Comedy at the festival comes from a variety of sources, the highlight of which is a triple bill of Junior Simpson, Men in Coats and SuperGirly on Wednesday, August 22 and cult star Harry Hill on Sunday, August 26.

Classical aficionados will welcome the inclusion of award-winning girls' choir Cantasmus, the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Jazz fans have a special treat, with appearances of two winners from the BBC Jazz Awards. Pianist Alex Wilson was given the Rising Star award and saxophonist Iain Ballamy walked away with the Best Innovator prize. Both appear at the festival on August 27 and August 18 respectively.

The festival begins on Thursday, August 16 and runs until Monday, August 27. For more details, call 01989 563330 or visit www.festival.org.uk