A TEENAGE virtuoso from Darlington learned from one of the best violinists in Europe at the weekend.

Clare Gale, 17, a pupil at Carmel RC Technology college, was one of three lucky members of North-East orchestra Young Sinfonia to win a chance to perform before Thomas Zehetmair, musical director of Northern Sinfonia.

Mr Zehetmair gave a musical masterclass in the ballroom of Morpeth Old Town Hall, in Northumberland, on Saturday.