EVELYN Glennie, arguably the world's leading percussionist, has been deaf since the age of six yet she has devoted her life to making music.

The tiny brunette glides across the stage in bare feet - all the better to feel the sound with.

This week she joined the British Nuclear Fuel Brass Band at the Guild Hall in Preston and despite having had only one short rehearsal together, they played like old friends.

Evelyn said: "The BNFL band is superb. They're really quick to pick up the music. We had just one hour rehearsing together yesterday and that was it.

"You never quite know what's going to happen but I suppose that's part of the fun."

The show flowed beautifully and the audience was clearly thrilled to see Evelyn in person.

BNFL band also have a strong following - the hall was packed with people and conductor Richard Evans seemed to know half of them.

They catered for most tastes from the typical 'first home buys the beer'-type marches, to the more classical sounds of Strauss and the popular tunes of Andrew Lloyd Weber (Love Changes Everything).

But even if you aren't a lover of brass bands or percussion, Evelyn's virtuosity was fascinating to watch - and knowing she can't hear the music entices one to wonder how she does it.

She appears to use every sense in her tiny frame to absorb the music - she must do. From her finger tips to her toes, she feels every vibration and resonance, and reacts in perfect time.

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