WHEN the celebrated Russian violinist, Maxim Vengerov returns to the National Concert Hall in March, he’ll have company. Pairing with him in Bach’s double violin concerto will be a gifted young man from Kilkenny.

ELLA Van Poucke’s career took a big leap forward last July when she emerged as the “Golden Star” of the prestigious Premio Chigiana held in Siena in Italy, writes Cathy Desmond.