THE Young Musicians series organised by the Classical Music Society has introduced us to many talented pianists over the years, and the first recital since being renamed the Beryl Chempin series, certainly kept up the standard we have come to expect.

Jade Lewis is a very relaxed performer, seemingly equally at ease when playing either light or heavy passages throughout the programme of popular music.

The first item was JS Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D Minor, and this was followed by three pieces by Chopin - including the popular Waltz in C sharp minor. Jade gave a good performance of all of these, and before the interval we also heard two pieces by Rachmaninov, though perhaps these did not suit her style of playing quite so well.

She played Beethoven's 32 variations in C minor with great expression, and excelled in the gentle Drei Klavierstucke by Schubert.

The main work of the evening was Beethoven's Pathetique sonata, and here Jade shone, first explaining how she was playing a slightly different version, adhering strictly to the original score.

However, for me the pice de resistance was Brahms' Rhapsody in G Minor, a passionate work typical of the composer, and Jade captured the mood of the piece perfectly.

The evening ended with a delightful encore of Debussy's Girl with the Flaxen Hair. VJS