A 14-YEAR-OLD Russian musical maestro will be the lead violinist at an Uttlesforde Orchestra concert to be staged at the Saffron Walden Town Hall on Saturday March 27.Talented musician Leonid Plashinov-Johnson was born in Russia in 1995 and received his

A 14-YEAR-OLD Russian musical maestro will be the lead violinist at an Uttlesforde Orchestra concert to be staged at the Saffron Walden Town Hall on Saturday March 27.

Talented musician Leonid Plashinov-Johnson was born in Russia in 1995 and received his first violin lessons there from the age of three.

On moving to England with his family in 2001, he continued his academic education at the Henry Moore Primary School in Harlow and his violin lessons with Frances Poole in Cambridge.

In 2004 Leonid became a pupil at Bishop's Stortford College where he was granted a Music Scholarship and studied the violin with Ysobel Latham. Four years later, after a number of very competitive auditions, Leonid was accepted as a student at the Yehudi Menuhin School where he studies the violin with Loutsia Ibragimova.

In March, last year, Leonid won the Harlow Young Musician of the Year competition.

The concert, which starts at 7.30pm, is being conducted by Richard Hull and will feature the well-known Barber of Seville by Rossini, Violin Concerto No 1 by Bruch and Symphony No 4 by Brahms.

Tickets are now on sale from the Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre (01799 524002) or will be available on the door on the evening. They are priced at �9 for adults, �7 for concessions and �2 for children.

Uttlesforde Orchestra was formed by George Barker in 1956 and has had an eventful history. Highlights have included the official opening of Stansted Airport in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen, semi-staged productions of Carmen and the Magic Flute at Wimpole Hall and participation in the National Trust's centenary celebrations.

The orchestra's second concert in Saffron Walden Town Hall will be held on Saturday June 26 and feature Piano Concerto by Beethoven and Symphony No 1 by Rachmaninov.

Anyone wishing to find out more information about any upcoming concerts or the orchestra can visit their website at www.uttlesforde.net