A TALENTED singer has proved she can hit the highest notes after being awarded the Bishop's Medal for her choral performance.
Caroline Howarth, who is a member of Darlington's All Saints and Salutation congregation, has achieved the second-highest award from the Royal School of Church Music after impressing with her singing.
After progressing through the ranks of the church's junior choir, she showcased her talents during a rigorous examination process where she performed a number of choral works including singing a hymn – with one verse unaccompanied – an anthem and a psalm.
"I just love music," she said. "I have been singing in a choir since I was seven-years-old, I also play the piano and am currently training to be a piano teacher.
"I'm really thrilled to have achieved this standard, there were only two people in for the exam from the region this time and I was the only one from Darlington. It is such an honour to win this award."
Successful candidates are entitled to wear a prestigious medal cast in the appropriately coloured metal – bronze, silver or gold – and wear them on a distinctive ribbon to mark their achievements.
She added: "I get presented with the Bishop's Medal in October and then I can start working towards achieving the highest distinction – the Gold medal."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here