MUSICAL marvel Joanne Atherton wants to add another string to her bow.
First she won a place at the prestigious Hall Youth Orchestra two years ago, and now she is pushing ahead with a fund-raising campaign which will see her tour Germany.
The 19-year-old violinist will join a group of 50 other performers who have to raise £100 each to make the trip. The cash-strapped student has organised a music extravaganza, to take place on Bank Holiday Monday, in a bid to raise the money.
Joanne, a music student at Manchester University, who leads the second violins, is also a talented pianist whose ambition is to become a professional performer.
Joanne's love affair with the violin began at the age of nine after two weeks of lessons.
A former sixth form pupil at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar and member of East Lancashire Youth Orchestra, Joanne has been having lessons with Ian Flower, of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. She now practices once a week at the BBC studios in Manchester.
Joanne, who will be performing alongside fellow Manchester University students Tamsine Bainbridge, Andrew Stewardson and Simon Lloyd, will be visiting the German towns of Eisenach, Leipzig and Bad Schmiedeberg.
She said: "It's a real accolade to be able to do something like this. It's the first time I have played abroad, but I have a German violin which I will be taking with me and hoping to impress them."
Joanne's proud parents, Michael and Rosa, are hoping the event will be a success.
Her dad added: "It's a wonderful achievement for Joanne to be able to play in Germany. The trip is being subsidised by the orchestra, but she still needs to raise £100 to get there, so we are hoping that plenty of people will turn up on Monday to show their support."
The event is taking place at Winfield's, Haslingden, from 10am to noon.
From there, the string quartet will be performing at Lancashire Homes and Gardens, Haslingden, until 2pm, before returning to Winfield's for a final performance until 4pm.
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