Benedetti in stereo
She’s a classically trained virtuoso with model looks and a tour in the off ing. No, it’s NOT Nicola ...but her big sister Stephanie
HER younger sister Nicola has long been regarded as one of the world’s foremost violin virtuosos. Now Stephanie Benedetti is to showcase her own formidable musical talents, with a new tour of the UK. But while Nicola’s performances as a soloist usually cover the classical repertoire, her elder sister – playing a minimalist viola as part of an ‘electric string quartet’ – will perform rock, dance and pop music with a dazzling lightshow and fireworks. Speaking exclusively to the Scottish Mail on Sunday, Stephanie revealed she will be touring the country next year with girl band Escala, who shot to fame when they reached the 2008 finals of Britain’s Got Talent and signed a £1 million record deal with Simon Cowell. And the Scot, who at 34 is four years older than her famous sister, opened up about her admiration for ‘Nicky’ and how they message each other every day. She also revealed that she is set to get married next year to her boyfriend, a pilot and television presenter. Last night, she said: ‘It is a very exciting year ahead as we are going on tour next April. ‘I can’t give too much away but we will be involving the audience more and there will be some really new and original takes on classical music. I play an electric viola in Escala, although I was trained on the violin, just like my sister.
‘Nicola and I do very different things and are on very different paths. I have always much preferred working in a group, as I bounce off people, and from an early age Nicola wanted to be a soloist.
‘But we both inspire each other a lot and we are very close. We text every day and are always in contact – the most we wouldn’t speak would be a couple of days.
‘I am just so proud of her. She is genuinely the most beautiful, amazing sister and person anyone could wish for. She deserves everything she works for.’
Stephanie, who was born and raised in West Kilbride, Ayrshire, also revealed she is set to marry Charlie Butcher, who starred in the ITV series Fishing Impossible.
She said: ‘We are getting married in June next year and I’m really excited about it.
‘Charlie and I met through mutual friends three years ago and we just got on really well.
‘We are very alike and both love wildlife, animals and adventures. It was one of those “when you know, you know” type of things.’
Escala are performing next April in Glasgow, Manchester and London. Details can be found on the band’s website: www.escalamusic.com.