PRIZE-winning violinist Leland Chen is the soloist for the Haffner Orchestra concert on Saturday (7.30pm) at Lancaster’s Ashton Hall.

Since winning the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition, Leland has distinguished himself as an exciting presence in the musical world dazzling audiences with his technical mastery and musical depth.

His London debut was with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall and since he’s appeared as soloist with the Philharmonia, London Philharmonic and London Symphony orchestras and toured North America with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Aged nine, Leland left his native Taiwan to take up a scholarship at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Winning the American Bicentennial Scholarship enabled him to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK, then the Menuhin Academy in Gstaad, Switzerland, where his teachers were Robert Masters and Lord Menuhin. Following the enormous success of his New York debut he gave a recital tour of more than 60 cities in the USA.

Conducted by the Natalia Luis-Bassa, the Haffner programme includes Puccini’s Intermezzo from Act 3, Manon Lescaut, Brahms Violin Concerto in D and Franck’s Symphony in D.