Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner attended a performance by cellist Christina Stuart who, together with other Cambridge teenage musicians, has received national recognition for her talent at playing the cello by joining the National Youth Orchestra.

Daniel Zeichner was treated to a performance inside Don Pasquale at 10am on 16 February.

Founded in 1948, the National Youth Orchestra brings together 164 of the brightest and best teenage musicians from all different backgrounds across the UK to perform classical music. Membership is decided by highly competitive auditions. The orchestra organises residential courses led by the finest conductors and tutors, and performs at venues like the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Daniel Zeichner MP said: ‘Christina must be so immensely proud to achieve national recognition for her talent. Membership of the National Youth Orchestra is one of the highest accolades and I am very excited to hear her play. I am convinced Christina has a very bright future ahead of her in music.’

Christina said: ‘It is thrilling to be part of the NYO! We have already had our first residency, followed by three performances, one of which was transmitted live by the BBC Radio 3. It was a wonderful course with sectionals and tutti studying and rehearsing our repertoire in such deep detail. The intensive training for many hours every day made us feel very spirited, and even after a long day, some of us would often feel inspired to play even more music in chamber groups – you can never do too much music!’