Robert Torrance (21) started his violin studies aged 6 with Madam Shen of the Yehudi Menuhin School. In 1998, he studied for a year with Caroline Plummer, Professor of violin, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, under whose tutelage he won, at age 10, a gold medal in the under-18 final of the Indiana State Violin competition.

On the family’s return to Scotland he studied with Warren Jacobs (St Mary's Music School, Edinburgh) winning, at age 14, the open string solo competition, the Festival Medal and the Stringer Prize at the Edinburgh Musical Competition Festival. On being

awarded a music scholarship to St Leonard’s School he studied with Vladislav Steinberg qualifying to compete as one of 13 in

The International Yfrah Neaman Violin Competition in Mainz, Germany at which Igor Oistrakh (one of the world's most famous violinists and a professor at the Royal Brussels Conservatoire) was one of the panel judges.

On receipt of a Scottish Arts Council award, Robert commenced violin lessons with Professor Oistrakh in Brussels. Whilst still at school, he was invited to perform Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso with the University of St Andrews’ Symphony Orchestra. Robert first played with the Dundee Symphony Orchestra in 2007 performing Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy and Dvorak’s Romance. The following year, he was selected (from around 700 applicants) to appear as one of 18 musicians in BBC’s televised “Classical Star” series.

Shortly after completing his psychology degree at York University, he performed Haydn’s Violin Concerto in C at the

Ruthven Music Festival in June, and in September gave the opening concert at the Invergordon Arts Society. He is devoting

this year to violin study and receiving lessons in Manchester with the acclaimed teacher and international soloist, Leland Chen.

Robert also enjoys chamber and ensemble playing and has performed with his family quartet both in Scotland and in the Verbier Festival, Switzerland.