PROFESSIONAL violinist Sophie Rosa is looking to introduce more young people to classical music by offering free tickets to her concert next weekend.

Sophie, 28, is returning to her former school, The Grange, to perform classical favourites such as Beethoven’s Spring Sonata and the Franck Violin Sonata.

The concert takes place next Sunday, May 15, at The Grange Theatre at Hartford, and begins at 7.30pm.

“Tickets for the concert are free for anyone under 15 as I am trying to introduce more young people to classical music,” said Sophie, from Winnington.

“I am very excited about the concert, and it will be particularly special to return to perform at my former school.”

Sophie has been asked to perform in March next year at the Wigmore Hall, a leading international recital venue in London.

She is also due to record her second CD on English Music Records, which is due for release in 2017 and will consist of violin duets with violinist Midori Komachi and pianist Simon Callaghan.

Sophie is performing at the Chester Music Festival next month, and will be playing on June 11 in the festival favourite ‘Gran Caffe Venezia’, which includes Piazzolla Tangos with guitarist Craig Ogden.

When Sophie was a seven-year-old pupil at The Grange School she performed for Princess Margaret when she came to visit the school, playing Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor.

In 2010 she returned to the junior school after being invited to perform at the opening of the new music department by choral composer and conductor Bob Chilcott.

Last September Grange headmaster Chris Jeffery invited Sophie to perform at the Gambifest charity fundraising event at The Grange Theatre in aid of Project Gambia, a charity which supports the educational needs of the Grange’s sister school in The Gambia.

Tickets for Sunday’s concert can be booked online at www.thegrangetheatre.com, by ringing the box office on 01606 539040 or buying them on the door.

The pianist at the concert will be Benjamin Powell, a member of staff at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Sophie attended the college and Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.