Young Musician of the Year to open UK tour in Shropshire next month

Japanese violinist Coco Tomita who was named as 'One to Watch' by the Gramophone Magazine will appear at the Festival Drayton Centre in Market Drayton on January 19.

Hailed by critics and audiences alike, the musician first gained recognition after winning the strings category in the BBC Young Musician of the year awards in 2020.

Currently touring Japan, Coco has Saffron Hall and Bechstein Hall debuts in the pipeline but will open her forthcoming UK tour in Market Drayton. 

With Simon Callaghan on the piano, Coco will play Schubert’s Violin Concerto in A major, known as 'The Grand Duo', and Beethoven's Violin Sonata in A major called 'Kreutzer'.

Festival Drayton Centre are hoping to see a big turnout for the performance and said that both sonatas feature strong melodies and dialogue between violin and piano.

Coco and Simon, who plays on both her albums, have a deep musical relationship that well-suited to the programme.

Callaghan has previously been branded 'a master colourist of the keyboard' by Classical Explorer. 

Moreover, The Observer said of Tomita’s first album: "The playing, technically dazzling and characterful, bursts with musical intelligence, with the experienced Callaghan an expressive duo partner".

The concert begins at 3pm on Sunday, January 19.

Tickets cost £15 per person while under 18's cost £1. For more booking information visit the festival website.