Wedding bells will play for violinist Tara

My favourite violinist Tara McNeill, who is due to play the London Palladium next month, has an even more important date scheduled for the New Year.

The daughter of Martin and Kathleen McNeill in Antrim is getting married in January.

The wedding to groom Alexander Bernstein, from Washington State, will take place in Donegal.

The young couple met in Dublin when they were students at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

It was love at first sight for Alex, born in San Francisco, and Tara, who grew up in a musical family — her sister Kelly is also a violinist and will be bridesmaid.

Tara will perform at the Palladi- um on October 27 with her group Celtic Women, made up of herself on violin and three girl singers.

“The solo I love to play on my violin is called For The Love Of A Princess,” Tara tells me. “The music inspires me and Alex enjoys it too. I also play the harp, which I learned when I was just seven.”

Tara, who graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, has toured extensively abroad with Camerata Ireland and renowned Northern Ireland pianist Barry Douglas.

In August 2016, Tara joined Irish music sensations Celtic Woman and previously toured with vocal group, Anuna.