Her father retained such a deep attachment to the place of his birth that he taught his children Irish ballads, including the works of Percy French. Janie was reared mostly in England, but enjoyed long holidays in Ireland, where both her parents had been born. Guy is also an amateur flautist while Janie teaches piano. Guy, a former fellow of St JohnвЂ™s College, Cambridge, is a linguist and Janie, an organ scholar at Oxford, taught literature. Israeli-born Guy and Janie, whose family are Irish, met as students in Cambridge where both went on to do doctorates. She and Guy want to give Alma and their younger daughter, seven-year-old Helen, a regular childhood, where they have freedom to climb trees, go to gymnastics and play in the park.Д«ut from an early age, it was obvious that Alma was exceptionally musical.ДЄs an infant, she responded to music by dancing and wriggling and whenever she heard a song, she could sing it back in the same pitch, says Janie. вЂњItвЂ™s difficult for me to say what itвЂ™s like because this is my only experience.вЂќД«eing a mother to any child means constantly being surprised, she adds, sounding like somebody who takes it all in her stride. вЂњWith the business of motherhood, you just grow into it,вЂќ says Janie of what itвЂ™s like to realise that your child is so gifted. Her first piece for a symphony orchestra, Dance of the Solent Mermaids, was premiered in the UK 2015. Her debut CD was released in 2013 and featured her compositions up to the age of eight.

At six she composed her first piano sonata and at seven, a short opera about a pirate. Since then, she has performed as a soloist in Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Uruguay, USA, Israel, and Japan.ДЄt four, Alma stared composing music and by five, had performed for the then Israeli President Shimon Peres. ItвЂ™s just the latest achievement from this talented child who began playing piano at the age of two and violin aged three. Last month the Deutschers were in Vienna where AlmaвЂ™s first full-length opera, Cinderella, opened to rave reviews. Alma, whoвЂ™ll be 12 in February, will be performing several of her own compositions as well as music by other child prodigies including Mozart and Schubert. вЂBalanceвЂ™ is a word that her mother Janie uses several times during our interview in advance of AlmaвЂ™s performance in the Town Hall Theatre, Galway as part of Music for GalwayвЂ™s Mid-Winter Festival. Their 11-year-old daughter, Alma, has been hailed as a musical prodigy with no less a character than Stephen Fry comparing her to a young Mozart. Sunday 14 September, 4pm, St Thomas Church, LymingtonДЇormer BBC New Generation Artists with appearances at the Proms, the Galliard Ensemble has become one of BritainвЂ™s leading chamber groups.Lifestyle вЂ“ Judy Murphy talks to the mother of 11-year-old Alma Deutscher whose full-length opera has got rave reviewsД«eing the parent of a gifted child is both rewarding and challenging, as Janie Steen and Guy Deutscher know from first-hand experience. The concert will also feature a commission by the eight-year old prodigy Alma Deutscher. Saturday 13 September 2014, 7.30pm, St Thomas Church, LymingtonДЄ glorious selection of early and late works by Beethoven and Brahms performed by the Endellion Quartet, clarinettist Katherine Spencer, pianist Sam Haywood and cellist Damien Ventula. Info & tickets Songs of Innocence and Experience Saturday 13 September, 1.15pm, St Thomas Church, LymingtonДЄ special event for all the family with artist Ashley Davies and clarinettist Katherine Spencer who regularly present workshops at the Courthauld Institute in London. For dinner reservations call 0844 7046820. There is no charge for this event but donations on the evening welcome. Ronnie ScottвЂ™s resident jazz singer Kai Hoffman, with her own unique brand of jazz & cabaret-style entertaining, is back by popular demand! The Endellion Quartet, cellist Damien Ventula and pianist Sam Haywood perform two of SchubertвЂ™s best-loved masterpieces completed in his final year, aged 31.ДЇriday 12 September 2014, 9.30pm, Stanwell House Hotel, Lymington Thursday 11 September 2014, 7.30pm, St Thomas Church, LymingtonДЇour centuries of choral and organ music for monarchs including Zadok the Priest and anthems composed for Kate and William.ДЇriday 12 September 2014, 7.30pm, St Thomas Church, Lymington

12 year old music prodigy alma