JENNIFER Pike learnt to grow up fast when she picked up a violin.

She was just 12 when she gained international recognition when she became BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2002. At the time she was the youngest person to have received the accolade and began to live this dual life of studying at Hursthead Junior School in Cheadle Hulme and performing with some of the most acclaimed orchestras.

Fifteen years later, Jennifer, who is performing at St Wilfrid’s in Grappenhall on February 9, is still benefitting from all the doors that prestigious competition opened.

“I remember the moment so vividly. It was such a happy time,” she told Weekend.

“It was a life changing experience. I don’t think I’m overstating it when I say that. It was just one of the best moments in my life to take part in that competition. I met so many wonderful people, I learnt about violin playing and then there was the actual moment of getting to the final and performing with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

“Honestly, it was mind blowing for me at that age. I was so excited. Two million were watching and it was an incredible thing to take in.”

The first big change after Jennifer became a BBC Young Musician of the Year was that she visited London every 10 days to study with David Takeno, tutor to many of the UK’s top orchestral and solo violinists. That led to her being awarded a postgraduate scholarship by the Guildhall School of Music and Drama when she was just 16.

“I owe a lot to him,” said the 27-year-old.

“He’s an amazing musician and I was learning so much going backwards and forwards to meet him. It definitely prepared me for Guildhall as it was a big move at 16 to go there.

“It was really good to get used to a bit of travel as my life is just travelling these days. My family were very trusting in allowing me to disappear off. I appreciated that

“If you want to do music you really have no choice. It’s a bit of a risky business so I think you’ve got to really love it. It’s got to come from you so my family were keen for me to discover it by myself.”

Jennifer’s highlight in those early years was performing at the BBC Proms when she was 15.

The Oxford University graduate added: “I opened the whole day. I was playing solo at the very beginning in that huge space and it was going out live on radio. I was 15 and it was one of the most thrilling experiences I’ve ever had.”

Jennifer, who started learning violin when she was five, is keen for other young people to have the same opportunities that she did too. She is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and Foundation for Children and the Arts, and a patron of the Lord Mayor’s City Music Foundation.

“Just to give a young person a chance to be able to express themselves in something creative is a real gift and they won’t ever lose that,” said Jennifer.

“It’s something they’ll have throughout their lives. It’s enriching for communities. It doesn’t matter what you do, where you’re from or what your talent is even. It’s simply about having the opportunity to do something like that and be introduced to something which may or may not be life changing.”

Music also runs in Jennifer’s family. Her dad Jeremy is a pianist and composer and the pair will have a rare chance to play together in Grappenhall.

Jennifer, who attended Chetham’s School of Music, added: “For this recital my dad will be playing piano which is so nice as with all the travel we often don’t get the chance to have those moments so I’m really looking forward to the concert.”

n Jennifer Pike will perform for Live at St Wilfrid's on February 9. Included in the programme will be Vaughan Williams's The Lark Ascending which she recently performed live on BBC Two at a special service commemorating the centenary of the First World War at Westminster Abbey.

Tickets are £15 but the organisers have also teamed up with Cavatina Chamber Music Trust to give up to 50 free tickets for young people between the age of eight and 25. Live at St Wilfrid’s is the first music society in the north west to offer this free ticket scheme in a bid to encourage more young people to enjoy classic concerts.

Tickets can be reserved by phoning Joyce Walker on 263183 or you can buy them on the door.

DAVID MORGAN