WHEN concert organist Keith Hearnshaw plays, there's now a big picture to go with the big sound.

Because the Droitwich-based musician has developed a system that projects an image of him at the keyboard on to a large screen that faces the main audience.

"At most venues where organists play recitals and concerts the organ console is out of sight to the audience," said Keith. It's either hidden by a big stone pillar or high up in a gallery and, as a player, its most frustrating to not have that visual contact with the audience.

"With the big screen video projection equipment, audiences really appreciate seeing the action at the 'flightdeck'. I've even had comments like 'I never knew you used your feet to play'. So the big screen is as basic as that.

"Also, when I'm playing music from the movies, I have pictures running on the screen from the films. They help to evoke feeling.

"I have been playing recitals since 1998, having previously held posts at Lincoln Cathedral and at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral.

"The big screen equipment has been really brilliant at my own concerts since 2001 and I have built up a presentation business during this period. As well as using the equipment for my own concerts, I have hired it out to such venues as St Paul's Cathedral Celebrity Recital Series, Westminster Cathedral, St Alban's Abbey International Organ Festival and also a number of Three Choirs Festivals at Worcester, Gloucester and Hereford.

"For the last two years we have gone out to Brussels and provided big screen presentations for the Brussels International Organ Festival.

"Recently, we found the equipment has been struggling somewhat, as it was getting out-dated.

It was following this and the growth of the business that meant I needed to update the equipment. I've spent a small fortune on the upgrade."

He is playing a concert at Sacred Heart RC Church Droitwich as part of the Droitwich Music Festival on Thursday, July 6 at 7.30pm.

"The organ has just been restored and improved by the Worcester based firm Trevor Tipple Organ Builders,and is a fine instrument in a wonderful acoustic and setting," Keith added.

"The programme will include music by Mozart,Bach and Widor, but also music from Harry Potter and Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera and Titanic all with pictures on the big screen and excellent views of the action at the console."