Ballymena girl is the youngest musician chosen to play for internationally acclaimed cellist

SEVENTEEN year old Eva Richards from Ballymena is the youngest of the lucky few musicians chosen to participate, and perform, in an Ulster Orchestra Masterclass given by internationally renowned cellist Paul Watkins in the Ulster Hall next week.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jan 2013, 16:27 BST

Paul Watkins is returning to Belfast to both conduct and perform in the Ulster Orchestra’s Watkins Plays Haydn concert but, the day before, he will host a Masterclass to a selected group of Northern Ireland’s finest young cellists.

The Masterclass on Thursday (January 31) in Ulster Hall offers both the participants and audience members a very special opportunity to meet and learn from one of the world’s finest musicians of our day.

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Eva, currently a member of the Ulster Youth Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and the NEELB Youth Orchestra, was awarded the ABRSM Philip F Walsh Memorial Prize in 2011 for scoring the highest mark in all Grade 8 examinations. Currently a pupil of Scot Heron, she was also the winner of the 2012 Northern Ireland Soroptimists Public Speaking Competition, and has been invited to play at the opening ceremony of their international conference.

Eva aspires to continue her studies in music and speaks enthusiastically about the chance to meet Paul Watkins. She said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the Masterclass and to play for such a wonderful cellist will be an honour.”

Eva will be joined by Queen’s University students, Charlotte Lamont from Antrim and Dermot Clenaghan from Lisburn. With tickets priced at just £5, and free for students, this Cello Masterclass, is an unbeatable opportunity for audience members to listen to and learn from virtuoso cellist Paul Watkins.

Related topics:BallymenaNorthern IrelandBelfast