VALE Royal Lions are purring with pride after their patronage of a Cuddington violinist brought her international acclaim.
Sophie Rosa, 20, wowed the judges at the European finals of a Lions International competition in Cannes to collect the star prize.
Each year, the Lions select a different instrument and set a Euro-wide challenge to find the best of the best.
Vale Royal Lions sponsored Sophie, who sailed through the district and national finals - before triumphing in the glittering finale in the South of France.
Sophie started to learn the instrument at the age of four - and her natural talent, coupled with her dedication, won her a place at Chethams Music School in Manchester under the tutelage of Prof Wen Zhou Li.
She continues to study with him at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Her career highlights so far include a solo concerto for Princess Margaret when Sophie was eight and performing in a quartet for Prince Charles.
In February 2006, Sophie won through to the strings final of BBC Young Musician of the Year.
