TALENTED young musician Joseph Davies has gained a place at the prestigious Chetham s School of Music in Manchester to study cello and composition. Joseph, aged 15, was a Music Scholar at St Albans School and a former pupil of Harpenden cellists Michael F

TALENTED young musician Joseph Davies has gained a place at the prestigious Chetham's School of Music in Manchester to study cello and composition.

Joseph, aged 15, was a Music Scholar at St Albans School and a former pupil of Harpenden cellists Michael Fuller and Guy Johnston.

During his time at Chetham's he will have the opportunity to play in chamber groups, choirs and school orchestras and take part in concerts held regularly in key musical venues, such as the Royal Northern College of Music and the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. In addition, he will receive academic and music tuition at the highest level.

Joseph's music teacher Guy Johnston, a Chetham's graduate himself, said: "Joseph is absolutely thrilled to be going to Chetham's. I have had the pleasure of listening to Joseph for the past year and we know that he will continue to grow from strength to strength at such a vital place at Chetham's.

"I have had many memorable experiences at Chetham's and trust that Joseph will have a great time too. I look forward to hearing how Joseph develops and wish him all the very best."

With nearly 300 students, Chetham's is the largest specialist music school in the UK and welcomes young people from many different backgrounds and from all parts of the UK and abroad.

Students are constantly achieving success through competitions such as the BBC Young Musician of the Year and two out of the five finalists in the 2004 and 2006 competitions were Chetham's pupils.

Former Harpenden resident Guy Johnston won the competition in 2000 and now has a successful career as a concert soloist.

Guy will be playing the Brahms Double Concerto in A minor opus 102 with his brother Magnus, a violinist and another Chetham's graduate, and St Albans Symphony Orchestra at the United Reformed Church in Homewood Road on March 8.

Joseph will be performing the Mendelssohn Symphony No 4 and the Schumann Symphony No 3 with the Herts County Youth Orchestra at the University of Herts' Weston Auditorium on April 4 as well as a new piece by Ronald Stevenson with the Tanaka Quartet at St John's Smith Square on April 12.