A VIOLINIST has delighted a group of care home residents in Poundbury by performing a live concert to celebrate her grandfather's 100th birthday.

Kate Stillman, co-leader of the British chamber orchestra Manchester Camerata, entertained residents of Castle View care home with an impromptu recital while on a visit to celebrate her grandfather, John Stillman, reaching his milestone birthday.

Katie, who recently performed at the BBC Proms, played movements from Vivaldi's Four Seasons and the opera Orfeo ed Euridice by the 18th century German composer Christoph Gluck to a small audience of residents at the home.

John, a former architect and chorister who once sang at the Albert Hall, had watched his granddaughter on television at the Proms in her role as principal violinist for London's Aurora Orchestra earlier this year.

He said: "I watched Katie playing at the Proms on BBC iPlayer recently and was completed moved by the experience.

"Then when she came and performed for us right here at our home it made me feel so proud of her once again.

"Everyone was surprised and amazed when she spontaneously started playing. She is a true artist with the most outstanding creative musicianship and technical skills."

Katie, who lives in the Peak District, performed behind a transparent screen at the entrance of the building to adhere to the home's Covid-safe visit protocol while residents watched and listened from inside.

The musician, originally from Canada, has also been the co-leader of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Orchestra.

She is the founding member of the Barbirolli Quartet, which has performed across Europe, and she teaches violin and chamber music at Chetham's School of Music and pedagogy at the Royal Northern College of Music, both in Manchester.

Staff and residents at the Poundbury home were thrilled to have Katie play for them.

Companionship team leader at Castle View, Katya Williams, said: "We couldn't take our residents to the Proms this year but luckily the Proms came to us.

"It was absolutely delightful to see our residents enjoying the magic of Katie's playing. What an exquisite treat."