A YOUNG musician who wants to follow in the footsteps of her parents has already been recognised by one of the most prestigious colleges in the north west.

Amelia Stuart plays cornet, trumpet and piano and has been awarded the Ian McPherson Memorial Prize at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester.

The Penketh High School pupil’s mum Gill is a Grade 8 flautist and her dad Mark plays for Warrington Brass, based at Latchford Methodist Church.

Amelia had only been at the RNCM for a year when she received the junior award for students aged between 12 and 14. Only one is given out a year.

The 12-year-old said: “When I went there I thought I’d be one among many so to get the award and be recognised makes me feel really good about myself.”

Gill added: “It’s recognition from somewhere that is quite big for music and she’s only just turned 12. It’s been described as Hogwarts for musicians.”

The RNCM’s junior section has students aged between eight and 18 and Amelia is there every Saturday for a full day of workshops..

She is working towards Grade 3 in piano and Grade 6 on trumpet and has both one-on-one tuition and group lessons in the likes of theory and improvisation.

Usually pupils that are Amelia’s age go into the Manchester college’s foundation section which has shorter hours but after seeing her potential the former Penketh Primary student was invited into the full section

Amelia, whose studies are part funded by Warrington’s Jane and Stephen Murphy Foundation, has also already performed at informal concerts at the RNCM and Accent Music Education Hub concerts at St Andrew’s Church in Orford.

And she has been on Warrington’s biggest stage with Foden’s Junior Band at the Parr Hall and has performed solos with the full Foden’s Band.

Gill, from Penketh, said: “In the interviews they’ve said how well she’s done this year and they want her to do the external concerts as well which are usually kept for students that are 15 or 16 or older.

“They’ve said she’s shown herself to be an advanced musician. They want her to go out next year so she could find herself doing a performance anywhere from London to Edinburgh so who knows where she’s going to end up.”

Amelia, who has been playing the cornet since she was eight, was originally inspired to pick up an instrument by her dad Mark, a member of Warrington Brass.

“Since I was baby I’ve always followed the band around to go and watch them at marches or playing at bandstands,” she added.

DAVID MORGAN