Celtic Connections Opening Concert to Feature Nicola Benedetti and Friends

The Celtic Connections music festival will open with a special concert by award-winning classical violinist Nicola Benedetti, together with leading Scottish artists Julie Fowlis, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham. The concert will take place on Thursday, January 16th at 7:30 pm and the musician will reveal material from Nicola Benedetti’s upcoming Scottish-themed album.

Accordionist and composer Phil Cunningham also team ups with former La Bottine Souriante accordionist Yves Lambert’s trio, along with Malawi’s Peter Mawanga & The Amaravi Movement.

Boston-based quintet Joy Kills Sorrow will perform neo-stringband music, while Scotland’s Duncan Chisholm – present with Wolfstone on that landmark inaugural night – will perform with Jarlath Henderson, Tony Byrne and Ali Hutton.

About Nicola Benedetti

Nicola Benedetti is one of the leading classical violinists of her generation. Born in Scotland of Italian heritage, Nicola began violin lessons at the age of five with Brenda Smith. In 1997, she enrolled in the Yehudi Menuhin School, where she studied with Natasha Boyarskaya. Upon leaving, she continued her studies with Maciej Rakowski and then Pavel Vernikov, and continues to work with multiple admired teachers and performers. Nicola plays the Gariel Stradivarius (1717), courtesy of Jonathan Moulds.

She has performed with the world’s finest symphony orchestras and also plays chamber music, performing as a trio with cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and pianist Alexei Grynyuk since 2008.

Nicola is deeply committed to music education and to developing young talent. She established her own education and outreach program titled The Benedetti Sessions. Launched in March 2013 at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, these sessions gave hundreds of aspiring young string players the opportunity to rehearse, undertake and observe master classes culminating in a performance alongside Nicola.

Nicola’s most recent recording, The Silver Violin, reached No. 30 in the UK pop charts simultaneously to topping the classical charts for months. Her past recordings include Fantasie, The Violin, Italia, Mendelssohn / Macmillan / Mozart, Nicola Benedetti plays Vaughan Williams & Tavener, and Tchaikovsky & Bruch: Violin Concertos.

Thu 16 January, 7:30pm
£24 (premium seats – limited availability), £21
Main Auditorium, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall