Catherine Leonard, preparing for a Musci Network tour.
The virtuoso violinist, who is rehearsing for a string of concerts with Charles Owen, a Classical Brit-winning pianist, and Guy Johnston, a cellist who was BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2000 - took a slightly unorthodox route to her current success.
From what she describes as "basically a non-musical background", she didn't start taking lessons until she was nine, and even then she didn't particularly like practising. "It was all very relaxed initially," she says. "I had a wonderful teacher, Una Kindlon at Cork School of Music, but it was under Ronald Masin, in Dublin, that I really started to put the work in."
When it came time to leave Ireland for further studies, Leonard opted for Dallas, on a Fulbright scholarship. "It was an unusual choice, but I had the opportunity to study with Eduard Schmieder, so basically it was the teacher who attracted me to Dallas." Leonard now performs regularly with Irish orchestras and is principal violinist for Camerata Pacifica, a California-based chamber ensemble.
The tour will see the trio perform pieces by Clara Schumann, Ravel, Schubert and Beethoven. "Organising schedules for rehearsals has been difficult, but I am excited about the tour. I have known Charles and Guy for years, so it's like hitting the road with friends. It's very different for us to be playing smaller venues, so it's a totally different type of performance - and when you are playing a programme for a number of performances your relationship with the music evolves as you discover different nuances in the pieces."
Leonard is also classical-music curator of this year's Kilkenny Arts Festival. "We haven't finalised our line-up yet, but my job will be to bring world- renowned classical-music talent to Kilkenny, and I am really looking forward to that."
In conversation with Michael Kelly
The Music Network tour begins at the Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, on March 25th, moving to Drogheda, Dublin, Portlaoise, Listowel, Ennis and Castlebar. See www.musicnetwork.ie or call 01-6719429. Photograph: Joe St Leger