A YOUNG cellist from Westwood is returning to the area on Friday night with her quintet ensemble, after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London last month.

Beatrice Newman, 24, who grew up in Westwood, attended the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for four years before completing her Master of Arts degree in cello performance in London.

She said: “It was really wonderful, with lots of opportunities and different experiences. I have learnt a lot.”

Miss Newman, whose father Bernard was the director of music at Monkton Combe School in Bath, started playing the cello aged eight while she was a pupil at Westwood with Iford Primary School.

She said: “I really liked the instrument as soon as I started playing it and it just went from there.”

She joined the West Wiltshire Young Musicians in 1997, played with the Junior and Intermediate String Ensembles and then joined the West Wiltshire Youth Orchestra before progressing to the Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Orchestra.

Miss Newman, whose performances range from orchestral playing to chamber music and solo performances, co-founded the quintet London Chamber Ensemble who will be performing at Holy Trinity Church in Bradford on Avon tonight at 7.30pm.

Mum Debbie Newman, who will be watching the performance, said: “I feel hugely proud because she has total dedication. There are hours and hours of practice.”

Miss Newman, who won the Bath Young Musician of the Year in 2007, now lives in North West London and is focusing on becoming a freelance musician.