YOU heard them here first. Two more of those youthful prodigies we are privileged to enjoy thanks to the impresario activities of the organisers and all the other local music society folk who have such excellent working relationships with the music schools and colleges.

They work very hard to bring us a superb selection of soloists and ensembles year after year, and long may they continue.

Lily Whitehurst has a fine, graceful bowing style, sensitive and expressive, but without histrionics.

David Gibson, from Northern Ireland, has participated in master classes with the Ulster Orchestra, playing for Nikolai Demidenko and Peter Donohoe. He is an excellent pianist with an impressive ability range.

Whitehurst and Gibson are a delightful duo, talented, and with a youthful confidence that was fully justified in the programme selected.

Their introduction to the programmed items, which included works by Bach, Janacek and Ravel, enhanced audience enjoyment.

The Janacek piece opened with a dramatic statement by both violin and piano. Lyndhurst remarked that beautiful melodies would emerge seemingly from nowhere in this work.

It is certainly bursting with life and power and has many unexpected patterns, now joyous, now solemn. The allegretto is pure delight, and the sheer variety of effect produced in this music is amazing, everything from sweet, tender phrases to explosive crackers and even whispers, imposing high demands on technique from start to finish.

The Ravel piece which followed was smoother, though just as exciting. The second movement started with a prolonged soft bowing of the violin, which then carried the tune whilst the piano maintained the beat. There was a minor "bluesy" feel to this music, again full of special effects.

This was the final concert in the season, but a programme for the autumn is already progressing. A violin and piano duo will open the season in October, with a performance by Russian pianist Yulia Vershinina in November. A Christmas treat is promised for December.

For advance information visit: swt-concerts-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit Sotherans.wix.com/classical-cleveland.

Irene MacDonald