He's already found fame in an international YouTube contest, now he's getting requests for tuition from around the world and is himself getting the best possible teaching.

Violinist David France's career is going from strength to strength.

The American has worked here for a few years, teaching violin with the Bermuda School of Music and giving free lessons to primary students at Government schools.

Last year, Mr. France shot to fame when he won a place on the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, which played at New York's Carnegie Hall. He auditioned via YouTube videos and joined an orchestra made up of people from around the world.

As a direct result of that, he got a place with the Sphinx Symphony, a unique African American and Latino orchestra comprised of top professionals from around the US. He also won the attention of world-famous violin teaching duo, Roland and Almita Vamos, who are currently giving him tuition.

"I imagined that being one of the concert masters of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra might give me a little 'buying power' into a few of my musical dreams," said Mr. France. "So when I returned from New York, I continued dreaming about the most ideal musical additions to my career.

"The only orchestra that was both professional and part-time that I was interested in was the Sphinx Symphony. So I sent them a letter with my request to join the orchestra along with news of my recent position with the YouTube Symphony."

The Sphinx Symphony immediately wrote back asking for his résumé, which he sent. Mr. France didn't hear from them again until last December, when they sent a formal invitation to perform in the first violin section of the orchestra.

"They even offered to fly me to the event and cover all costs once I arrived. How could I say no?"

The Vamos' are among the leading violin and viola instructors in the world. Their pupils have become prominent soloists, members of world-renowned chamber groups and orchestras, and laureates of prestigious international competitions. The pair has been recognised at the White House seven times and were named 'distinguished teachers' by the National Endowment for the Arts. They have been honoured by the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) with a Distinguished Service Award, and showcased on CBS' Sunday Morning.

Mr. France sent the couple his YouTube Symphony audition video in hopes of getting into their class.

"Studying violin with the Vamoses has been incredible," he said. "They are passionate teachers who give 150 percent of their energy to their students. I work on my repertoire with Mrs. Vamos and she expects you to memorise your material by the second lesson. She is quite rigorous in her approach. She has a plan for every note. Actually, she may have seven things you are to do with every note.

"I work on technical studies with Mr. Vamos who has developed, over time, a unique approach to age-old scales and technical repertoire.

"I know that if Mr. Vamos gives me an exercise it will be much tougher than the study might appear at first glance. My first eight lessons with them were in New York and now I fly to Chicago every few months to take lessons from their home. If anyone would like to help sponsor this expensive, but exceptional educational opportunity, they can contact the Bermuda School of Music."

Mr. France said he has been "humbled" by the opportunity.

"I feel like a different player. All improvements are subtle and take place over a long period of time. After the summer, I could tell that I played the violin differently. After my lesson this past December Mrs. Vamos said that she was impressed, because I was playing the violin at a higher level than when I came to her in the summer.

"Something must be going right. Most students have a one-hour lesson each week. Students who study with the Vamoses have two lessons a week."

He said his training has also opened new opportunities, adding: "One of the perks of being their student is that on a simple recommendation from them I was asked to perform with the Festival Orchestra in Chautauqua, New York.

"This is a prestigious orchestra whose members have been auditioned from around the world. Mrs. Vamos' word was enough for the conductor to invite me to perform."

Mr. France said he also believed his own teaching had changed as well. "From the beginning, both Mr. and Mrs. Vamos' goal was to help me to teach the violin the way they teach the violin.

"Hopefully I'll bring some of their world-class knowledge back to my students at the Bermuda School of Music."

Since taking part in the YouTube Orchestra, he has been sought after.

"As a result of the YouTube Symphony and the accompanying media coverage I received, I've been getting requests from people around the world to give them violin lessons. I am considering offering violin lessons through Skype for those who might be interested."

• Mr. France will be performing with the Sphinx Symphony today during the Sphinx Competition in Detroit. The winners of the competition receive a cash prize, recording deal, engagements with symphonies, stipends for instruments, a university scholarship, and full tuition for a summer programme of their choice.

• For more information on the Sphinx Organisation visit www.sphinxmusic.org.