Thirteen young Worcestershire musicians received world-class teaching from the Carducci String Quartet at Huntingdon Hall in Worcester, last weekend.

And afterwards they had the experience of playing in front of a packed, live audience.

The free one-hour masterclass was given to Severn Arts pupils who are members of Worcestershire Youth String Orchestra (WYSO) and Worcestershire Youth Orchestra (WYO) by internationally renowned musicians Matthew Denton, Michelle Fleming, Eoin Schmidt-Martin and Emma Denton.

Following the masterclass the students were then given a one-off opportunity to perform with the Carducci Quartet ,to a packed audience in the Huntingdon Hall.

But they tackled the challenge with new confidence. The music performed by the students was pieces they had been working on beforehand and had received coaching on in the masterclass.

Student Hannah Whitten said: “I had such an amazing experience on Sunday. The workshop was fantastic and then to listen to the Carducci Quartet play and actually perform in the same concert as the Carducci Quartet was truly inspirational.”

Matthew Denton, of the Carducci String Quartet said: “The young musicians from Severn Arts were a pleasure to work with. They really responded to us which came over in their tremendous performance in the concert.”

Ian Hattersley, Severn Arts Deputy Director of Learning said: “This was a wonderful opportunity for our students. Receiving coaching from the Quartet and playing with them was such an invaluable experience and listening and watching them perform, with so much life and energy, will have undoubtedly inspired our young musicians.”

The Carducci String Quartet masterclass was organised by Worcester Concert Club in partnership with Severn Arts.

And it was the first in a series of three combined masterclass and concert planned across the next three years.