You won BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004 and have since been touted as Scotland’s sexiest star. How does it feel?My family thinks it’s hilarious; I don’t really think about it. Labels like that feel strange and completely unexpected. I’m a concert violinist before anything else.
Do good looks help a classical musician? There’s no point denying that appearance is important. If one performer looks great and the other is a better musician, they will end up on an equal par. But I’d feel like a fake if I put too much emphasis on my looks; you need much more than that to make it as a classical musician.
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Your father owns a pharmaceutical company; ever been tempted to follow his footsteps? Not in the slightest. My heart’s always been in music; I’ve been playing since the age of 4. At the age of 8 I became the youngest person to lead an orchestra in Scotland. Science was never really in the picture.
Do you find it stressful being a teen star? I don’t see myself as a star; and any stress has come from me, rather than anyone else. I’m always trying to make myself a better violinist.
What about the usual teenage traumas — spots, strops and too much TV? I feel like a normal teenager. It might not look it from the outside but I’ve had a very balanced life. My parents have been brilliant at guiding me, without telling me what to do.
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Is violin practice a workout for the arms? You’d think so. But I practise four to seven hours a day and I haven’t built up one tiny muscle anywhere. It’s a joke how weak my arms are. You don’t need strength or muscles to play, as it’s all about balancing and being able to relax on to the instrument. It’s mentally draining rather than physically.
How do you keep in tune? I go to the gym, but I have to be careful not to overdo my muscles. If they are tired it affects my playing. I make a point of eating healthily, though, or at least I try to — and then I’ll ruin it by having a week of eating total junk.
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What tempts your tastebuds? My mother’s pasta and sauces. It’s my Italian blood shining through.
Any other vices? Cake; any kind.
What about weight worries? I’m a huge eater. If I put on weight I stick to salads for a while, but I’d never consider not eating. Music isn’t like the ballet world; it’s not such an obsessive profession in terms of body beauty. Eating disorders have affected a few people I knew from school.
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And the devil’s nectar? I’m still under-age but I’ve been given wine at meals by my family since I was about 12 or 13, mixed with fizzy water at first. My mother’s never forbidden it, which has given me a healthy approach to drinking. One of the worst things to say to a teenager is: “You must not do this, or that.” Once the big mystery is taken away, nothing seems that exciting.
And the smokes? Never. I hate the smell. The Government is right in being tough on this; there’s nothing positive about groups of 12 and 13-year-olds smoking.
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Ever had a major illnesses or injuries? No; luckily I am very healthy.
Green tea or your GP? Neither, if I can help it.
Does music ease the passage through the awkward years? Definitely. It’s a shame that classical music has such a geeky reputation. I’m not expecting loads of people to buy a classical music record when they could buy Beyoncé, but it should be seen as a positive addition. There shouldn’t be a huge barrier between classical and pop; it’s all music.
Happy to be a pin-up for other teenagers? Oh God! I really don’t know. It’s great if young people are trying their best to be noticed for their skills, but it shouldn’t be just about having your face on a poster for the sake of it.
Serenading anyone special? Not at the moment. I have to stay focused on my career; it’s at an important point right now.
Any other strings to your bow? There have been rumours about me modelling, which aren’t true yet, but I can imagine that it would be an exciting thing to do later in my career.
How do you chill out? Reading; I’ve just finished Nelson Mandela’s autobiography. Or going to the cinema, or for dinner with friends. Nothing too highly strung as I get enough of that when I’m performing.
Fairy Godmother, please change . . . Can she make it easier for me to get up in the morning? I do try, but it’s such an effort.
Greatest ambition? It’s dangerous to have only the one. I’d like to develop as a person as well as a musician.
Nicola Benedetti will be performing at Classicalive, Olympia, London SW5, March 18-20. Tickets: www.classicalive.co.uk