Cellist, 14, wins musicians title

Stella practises cello and piano three hours every day

A South Korean girl who took up the cello at age eight has won a contest for talented young Welsh musicians.

Stella Cho, from Pontprennau, Cardiff, beat more than 80 others in the Texaco Young Musician of Wales 2005 title.

The 14-year-old, who practises for three hours every day, is a pupil at Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls. She wins £1,000 prize money.

Stella now plays in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. She said: "I love music and I love playing the cello."

The teenager moved to Wales at age 10 when her father took up a management post with the Korean firm, LG.

Her piano teacher introduced her to the cello, which she said was a relatively unusual instrument to play at the time.

Two years after moving to Wales, she won she gained the highest mark in Gwent at Grade eight music exams.

Stella said her parents encourage her in her ambition to become a professional cellist.

She said: "They are not musical but they are very supportive.

Biennial competition

"I love the deep, lyrical sound the cello makes.

"I try to do three hours' practice on the cello and one on the piano every day. I do an hour on the cello before I go to school."

Stella was presented with her award at the competition's final on Saturday night at Cardiff's Sherman Theatre.

She also won £1,000 for her school's music department.

Simran Singh, a 14-year-old violinist from Ammanford came second and 18-year-old flautist, Aimée de Gruchy-Lambert, from Machen won the third prize

The event was the ninth of the biennial competitions, organised in partnership with the South Wales Male Choir.