A LOCAL musician has won the James Etherington Award.

Joanne Keithley, a 17-year-old cellist and pupil of Durham Johnston School who plays in the Young Sinfonia Orchestra, came top in the finals of the competition last Wednesday.

She won the £300 first prize which will help to pay for tuition at this summer's Oxford Cello School.

The second prize of £100 was won by trombonist, Andrew Fox, 17, of Durham, a pupil at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle.

The award is named after the Tenor James Etherington, famous for his performances in London West End shows, who lived in Chester-le-Street. This was the 25th year of the awards, which have helped the careers of many well known local musicians.

The James Etherington Music Trust and the local Rotary Club sponsored the competition.