THE CORK School of Music, part of Cork RTC, appears to be a hothouse of musical talent, with a number of its students achieving national and international prominence.

Elizabeth Cooney, a scholarship student in the college under Adrian Petcu, was, recently selected as leader of the National Youth Orchestra; Paula Murphy, a student of Una Kindlon, has become leader of the Junior Irish Youth Orchestra; Sarah Sexton, a student of Cornelia Zanadache, was selected as leader of the second violin section of the same orchestra.

Both Cooney and Sexton are also members of a string quartet, with Una Palliser and Hanno Strydom, which has already scored notable successes in competitions and will represent Ireland at a symposium of chamber music in March.

"The string section is the foremost string section in Ireland," says Petcu, head of strings in the college. "There is a long tradition of string quartets in Cork and we have a strong, performance oriented teaching staff."

According to Petcu, the Cork School of Music is the oldest such institution in these isles. Founded in 1878, its four year degree course received validation last year, with the first intake of degree students entering the college in 1995.

The School of Music Symphony Orchestra will be performing in the City Hall, Cork, on February 22nd. Tickets are available from ProMusica.