Burnley viola player selected to perform in front of Prince Edward (From This Is Lancashire)

Burnley viola player selected to perform in front of Prince Edward

3:32pm Sunday 21st February 2010 in

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A BURNLEY girl has been selected to perform alongside one of the country’s top choirs.

Emily Hoyle, 16, will be looking to wow London crowds with her viola skills next month as she accompanies the renowned Bach Choir.

The Chetham’s School of Music student has been chosen to perform at a one off concert in the Royal Festival Hall.

Prince Edward will be in the audience on March 2 when Emily will be joined by her fellow students of Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra, based in Manchester.

The Burnley teenager from Ightenhill has been trained by the widely-respected conductor and musical director, David Hill, who will conduct her upcoming performance of Verdi’s Requiem.

Emily said: “This is the biggest concert I have been involved with and it is a little nerve-wracking in front of royalty.

“I know the school does this sort of thing a lot though, so it will be fine.

“Music has definitely been my main hobby since I started playing the violin at the age of five.

“I switched to viola three years ago and joined Chetham’s in September. I love the viola, and when I finish at Chetham’s I am looking to go to a university for music.

“My mother and father have always been musically gifted.”

Chetham’s is currently the largest specialist music school in the UK and has 290 students.

Verdi’s Requiem was made famous in 1874 to mark the death of the Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni.

Stephen Threlfall, director of music at Chetham’s School of Music, is confident the Chetham students can do the piece justice.

He said: “Our partnership with the Bach Choir is a clear indication of the calibre of the students we have at Chetham’s and we’re proud to join such world-renowned soloists on stage.”