A WORLD-class musician is set to make an appearance as part of a special Launceston event.

This year, St Stephen’s Church is hosting its own ‘concert series’, bringing some impressive performances to the town.

As part of the event, the church is welcoming Yulia Chaplina. Yulia is the winner of seven international piano competitions, including an impressive gold medal win at the Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Pianists.

Yulia will visit St Stephen’s on Saturday, February 28, at 7.30pm, where her repertoire will include not only popular classics Mozart’s “Sonata in A Major” and Chopin’s “Raindrops” prelude. On top of this, Yulia will be playing Tcahikovsky’s complete “The Seasons” suite – a series of twelve pieces themed by the months of the year.

For many, alongside the experience of welcoming a world-class musician, the event also proves exciting as it is set to be the first solo test of “Betty”, the beautiful Bechstein Grand Piano, generously donated in 2025 by Mrs Reed of Westward Ho!

A spokesperson from the church said: “Mrs Reed heard of our concerts and was keen to offer an instrument that would enable local musicians to access to a top-quality instrument. “Betty” is to be used by local pupils with their teachers, as well as being played in the concerts to accompany and in February, as the starring role.

“The St Stephen’s Concert Series is part of an initiative to bring music opportunities to local children. Every musician is asked to offer free music workshops for local school children, and also to offer Masterclasses for learners locally to enjoy at low costs. So far, all of our performers have been extremely generous with their time, and we have enjoyed a varied range of workshops from cello to viola to hurdy-gurdy! Yulia is offering a full day of creative art and music in schools on Monday, 2nd March, and we cannot wait to hear the music the children create.

“The long-term aim of the project is to launch a fund to provide music tuition for children without the means to access music lessons. It is our dream to create a music legacy that benefits many children across Launceston and brings musical opportunities to as many children as possible. Join us as we begin 2026’s series in style with Yulia’s weekend!”

Later this year, St Stephen’s will be welcoming cellist Geirthrudur Gudmundsdottie with Pianist Antoine Preat, followed in Autumn by Chloe Dicken’s Allegra Trio.