Concerts in the West
Press Release
August 2015

Sophie Rosa (violin) and Simon Lane (piano) concert series
12-14 November

At just seven years of age, violinist Sophie Rosa was chosen to perform a solo concerto in front of HRH Princess Margaret - early proof of the prodigious talent of this exciting young musician who has performed regularly throughout the UK and internationally since she was a child. Since then Sophie Rosa has gone on to achieve numerous awards and was a finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in 2006. In November, Sophie Rosa, partnered by the outstanding pianist Simon Lane, will perform the penultimate concert of Concerts in the West's 2015 series, at venues in Devon, Dorset and Somerset.

Catherine Hodgson, founder and director of Concerts in the West said: "What is particularly fascinating about Sophie Rosa is that she plays a Joseph Gagliano of Naples violin, which dates back to 1795. It was once owned by the 19th Century violinist August Wilhelmj and she chose this instrument for its beautiful, rich, warm and velvety tone, which she says fits her musical personality very well."

In 2014 Sophie recorded works by Franck, Ravel and Ysaye at Champs Hill Records with Ben Powell, piano and the resulting CD will be completed this year. Other career highlights include performing live on air for BBC Radio 3, being awarded the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal and winning the Lions European Music Competition, Cannes. She has received the prestigious MBF Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Award, as well as the Gold Medal from the Royal Northern College of Music, where she studied.

Sophie has performed at the MBNA Chester Music Festival, The Manchester Midday Concert Society, The Aurora Festival, Sweden, Musique Cordiale Festival, France, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and the International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove. As a chamber musician she has collaborated with names such as Martin Roscoe, Nobuko Imai and James Gilchrist.

For her West Country performances, Sophie will be accompanied by pianist Simon Lane who has gained a reputation as a compelling and sensitive musician. Simon has performed with world renowned names such as Danielle de Niese, Guy Johnston, Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Jack Liebeck and has appeared regularly at London's Wigmore Hall, as well as venues in Europe and America.

Simon's recently released CD with cellist Philip Higham was selected as Strad Magazine's CD of the month and Gramophone Magazine wrote in their review of the CD: "What is most striking about this performance is that, thanks to the brilliance of Simon Lane at the piano, the virtuosity of the piano-writing is thrillingly brought out.”

Musical Programme - Sophie Rosa (violin) and Simon Lane (piano):
Beethoven Sonata in A major Op 12 No 2; Elgar Violin Sonata; Brahms Sonata No 1; Ravel Tzigane

Bridport: Beethoven, Elgar and Ravel

Performance and Box Office Details for Sophia Rosa:

Thursday 12 November 2015 7.30pm, Lower Pulworthy, Highampton, Hatherleigh, Devon EX21 5LQ. Box Office: 01837 810940 (Salar Gallery, 18/20 Bridge Street, Hatherleigh EX20 3HY. 9am-5pm) Tickets: £15. Interval drinks, disabled access. Lower Pulworthy is an old rural farmhouse, approximately two miles out of Hatherleigh on the A3072. Take a right turn which is signposted to Legge Fisheries. Follow the road up the hill and take the right fork, which will lead you down a bumpy drive. You will see gate posts ahead of you and you will have arrived. There are several farm buildings, but they are no longer in use. The concert is in the house. Please park where you can find a space.

Ticket discounts for young people: Concerts in the West would like to encourage more children and students to attend concerts and we offer the following discounts:
Children/Students age 12 years and over: half price
Children under 12 years of age: FREE entry with a family member
School Groups (and more than two children with adults): to be negotiated separately.

Bring a friend for free: Concerts in the West ticket holders may bring for FREE one friend who has never attended a Concerts in the West performance before.

For further information about this concert and the 2015 concert series, please contact Catherine Hodgson, Director, Concerts in the West. Tel: 01460 53500, email: concertsinthewest@gmail.com or visit www.concertsinthewest.org