Classical Stars will go solo in youth orchestra

Published on Wednesday 2 July 2008 10:26

EDINBURGH Youth Orchestra will welcome the winner and runner-up of BBC2's 2007 Classical Star competition as soloists on its summer tour.

Pianist Sophie Cashell, winner of the competition that aims to find the best classical musician in the UK under 20, will tour with the orchestra to Perth, Dublin and Limerick, performing Tchai-kovsky's Piano Concerto No 1.

Bassoonist Karen Geoghegan, the runner-up and himself a former member of the EYO, will play Weber's Andante and Hungarian Rondo for Bassoon and Orchestra.

The orchestra will be led by conductor Garry Walker, another former EYO member. All three will participate in free pre-concert conversations taking place in the concert hall each night of the tour before the performance.

The EYO is a full symphony orchestra with over 100 players between 14 and 21 years, based in Edinburgh. It holds annual auditions open to musicians from all over Scotland.

For tour details, visit www.edinburghyouthorchestra.org