Haffner hands baton to Natalia (pic on Kendal site)

A WOMAN who has conducted orchestras across the globe has been appointed as the new musical director of Lancaster's Haffner Orchestra.

Natalia Luis-Bassa (pictured) will take over from Roger Cann when he retires in the summer.

She comes with glowing references including a recommendation from renowned conductor Sir Colin Davis, who describes her as a passionate musician.

Natalia, who is Venezuelan / Spanish, is based in London, but will move to the north in the summer, having been appointed both by the Haffner and the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra.

She has a BA in orchestral conducting and a diploma in advanced performance from the Royal College of Music.

In 1997, she won a Royal College of Music opera conducting fellowship and has conducted orchestras in many venues round the world.

Natalia describes her appointment as an honour'.

"I first heard the Haffner at their concert in February this year and was immediately impressed by the standard of playing. They are very fine musicians," she says.

"Their performance of the Eroica Symphony was very rewarding. I also liked the way they played the Sinfonietta by Roger Cann, who has guided the orchestra for the past 15 years."

Natalia joins the orchestra in the autumn, ready for their first concert in Lancaster's Ashton Hall in November.

Roger Cann's last concert with the Haffner is on Saturday, June 12, when young pianist Sam Haywood plays Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2.

The concert also features Brahms, Bizet, Schubert and Strauss and is at Lancaster's Ashton Hall. Tickets and details are from 01524-770503 or 32878.

Wisemen sign off at Gregson THE WISEMEN are descending on the Gregson Centre on Saturday (April 10) for a final gig before swapping the stage for the studio.

Formed in 1999 as an acoustic duo, they have expanded their line-up and now have a cracking rhythm section and keyboards to boot.

Playing a unique blend of folk, blues, country and psychedelic rock n' soul, they have gone down a storm at recent gigs.

They will be playing a selection of songs from their back catalogue, plus some new material, before they concentrate on recording.

Support comes from the Adventures Of Loki, one of Lancaster's finest exponents of energetic indie-rock who have recently impressed audiences in London and Manchester.

Doors open at 9pm, admission is £3 with profits going to support Lancaster Musician's Co-op.

Fair play to you FAIRPLAY Productions and the New Funk Foundation are joining forces to host their first event since last summer at The Dome in Morecambe this weekend.

The Bank Holiday Special on Saturday will feature Sankeys Soap resident Greg playing host to a night of quality house music with Dan Newby, Chilly, CJ Nelson,Sam Pemberton, Phil Kitchen, Tom Townley, Nick Lowe, Pod, Luke Channon and Lynden.

Sound for the event will be provided by Manchester's Audile, bringing the mighty Funktion-One Soundsystem to the Dome for the first time.

Tickets are available from the box office on 01524-582803, Lancaster University (01524-64720), Blue Tubes in Lancaster (01524-32068) or Mint Cafe Bar in Kendal (01539-734473)

Get out this Easter Easter weekend is almost upon us with oodles of planned activities around the area to make sure parents and their kids are entertained.

All things nautical will be on show at Lancaster's Maritime Festival, probably the highlight of the weekend locally. But there's planty more on offer Today (Thursday)

YOUNGSTERS can try and solve the clues and stop Evil Eggward before he steals more eggs in the Evil Eggward Treasure Hunt at Leighton Moss Nature Reserve. For details, call 01524-701601.

WHETHER you are a walker who falls from a cliff or a passenger stranded on a boat, the RNLI will be your lifeline. Learn about the people who save lives at a Search and Rescue workshop at Poulton Memorial Hall, from 10am.

BRING stories of the sea and the creatures that live it in alive at a Shadow Puppet Sea Shanties session at the Hothouse, More-cambe, from 10am until 3pm. To book a place, call 01524-582823.

EXPLORE the shore searching for minibeasts of the mud and rock pools with the Bay, Beasts and Banners workshop at the Platform, Morecambe, and the beach from 9.30am. For details, call 01524-582823.

CREATE a collage with shells and fossils and make rubbings and drawings at the Storey Gallery, Lancaster. Fishy Fossil Collage starts at 10am. Call 01524-582823 for details.

Friday (April 9)

DID you know ice in some parts of Antarctica is three-miles thick? Or that the sun evaporates about a billion tons of sea water daily? These are just some of the interesting facts in the Lancaster & Morecambe Children's Festival which continues until Friday, April 16. Call 01524-582823.

THE 16th annual Easter Maritime Festival will have Lancas-ter's historic quayside echoing to the sound of sea-songs and shanties with a variety of maritime-themed events and activities including ships-in-bottles, illustrated talks, walks, storytelling and dramas. Call Lancaster Tourist Information Centre on 01524-32878.

Saturday (April 10)

HAPPY Mount Park, More-cambe hosts its Easter Extrava-ganza, a fun-filled day of family orientated Easter activities and entertainment plus the usual mini train, trampolines, crazy golf and a bowling green. 01524-582845.

PUNCH & Judy will be entertaining the crowds at the St. Nicholas Arcade as part of the Maritime Festival while the City Museum has a programme of talks and singing. Call the TIC on 01524-32878 for times.

Sunday (April 11)

THE National Sedan Chair Carrying Championshipsconsists of teams of three (two men carrying a woman on a chair!) racing replica 18th century chairs over a course at Quay Meadow, behind the Maritime Museum, from 3.30pm. For details, call 01524-582810.

ENJOY an Easter Eggstravaganza at Leighton Moss with egg decorating from 11am-3pm. Details are from 01524-701601.

Tuesday (April 13)

RECREATE the sounds of the sea using musical instruments, sound effects and your own body at the Hothouse Soundwaves event in Morecambe for kids aged eight to 12 from 10am. For a place, call 01524-582823.

BUILD your own colourful and crazy Punch and Judy charac-ters from paper and glue at a workshop at the Platform, More-cambe, from 10am. It is open for youngsters aged eight and over. Call 01524-582823.

SET off on a scavenger hunt on the beaches of Morecambe and collect as many items washed up on the shore as possible from 1.30pm. To book a place, call 01524-582823.

PEDAL your way through the forest of Gisburn with a mountain biking adventure. It is open to youngsters aged 10 to 16 years. To secure a place, call 01524-582823.

Wednesday (April 14)

EXPLORE marine life, dive beneath the waves and build sandcastles with dance at a workshop hosted by Ludus Dance and star in a showcase. The dance today and tomorrow from 10.30am. For a place call 01524-582823.

LEARN skiing manoeuvres with a beginner's course at Pendle Ski Club at 10.30am. It is open from youngsters aged between ten and 16. For a place, call 01524-582823.

A CHALLENGE for all budding orienteerers is taking place around Williamson Park, Lancaster, from 10.30am. The course, which will teach kids how to navigate, starts at 10.30am. Call 01524-582823 for details.

Thursday (April 15)

AN EXCITING opportunity to do an adventure walk with the official Queens guide is taking place from 9.30am. Explore the sands, catch some fish and learn about quicksands with Cedric Robinson. For more information, call 01524-582823.

A COACHING session in the basic skills of golf is taking part at Ashton Golf Club. Open to youngsters aged eight to 16, transport will be provided to the course. For more information, call 01524-582823.

ALL hands on deck to create shoals of fish, treasure troves and much more with Shiver Me Timbers at the Assembly Hall at Lancaster and Morecambe College. For more information, call 01524-582823.

Friday (April 16)

DISCOVER what's lurking at the bottom of the pond at Leighton Moss with a pond dipping session. All nets, trays and help provided. From 10.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-4pm. Call 01524-701601.

GATHER family and friends to explore King Neptune's King-dom at 1pm at the Assembly Hall at Lancaster and Morecambe College. For more information, call 01524-582823.