FOR one of the featured soloists in this year's Three Choirs Festival, playing in the cathedral is a return to home turf.

Pianist Charles Owen may have studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal College of Music, but Worcester is where his family call home.

"I love doing the Three Choirs partly because my family moved just outside of Worcester," he said.

Mr Owen will be giving two performances, one a concert with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Festival Chorus in the Cathedral and the second, a piano trio at Huntingdon Hall.

"I love both equally," he said.

The concert takes place at 7.45pm tomorrow and the programme includes Walton's The Twelve, Stanford's Piano Concerto No 2, Lambert's The Rio Grande, and Copland's Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo.

"The pieces by Stanford are romantic and have a romantic virtuoso lyricism and a very British flavour as well," said Mr Owen.

"It is very lyrical and English for the Three Choirs theme."

But, as counterbalance, the programme includes The Rio Grande.

"This will be the first time I have performed with a full orchestra and choir like this. I'm not quite sure what to expect."

Later, in the festival, Mr Owen will be playing with cellist Jamie Walton and violinist Jack Liebeck for the piano trios.

The programme for this concert, at 11am on Thursday, includes Beethoven's Trio in G Major, op 1 no 2, Frank Bridge's Sonata for cello and piano and Ravel's Trio in A Minor.

"When there are only two or three people playing you have to blend as a group and make sure your ego doesn't get in the way."

Playing with the trio is familiar ground for Mr Owen because he has recorded with Jamie Walton before, but Worcester still holds a special place for him.

"I love the way such big crowds take over Worcester. They really take over for the week," he said.