A TEENAGER has been won an international competition and gone on to gain a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music.
Pianist Sarah Gardner, 17, a student at Yarm School, who comes from Elton, near Stockton, won the classical category of the music industry-backed Next Brit Thing 2012 competition.
Sarah - pictured left - who performed at the Royal Albert Hall as a part of a national broadcast by radio station Classic FM last autumn, beat piano players from around the world to win the award.
But she is even more pleased to secure a place at the Royal Academy of Music. She had to have two auditions, an interview and sit a written paper.
Fewer than one in six applicants are offered a place to study at Britain's oldest music academy, but Sarah received the rare honour of an immediate offer with a much sought-after scholarship.
Sarah said: "The opportunity to attend the Royal Academy of Music is a dream come true for me.
"I was over the moon to win the Next Brit Thing and to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, and I thought nothing could top that, but winning my scholarship certainly has."
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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