A TALENTED teenager who is mad about music has hit a high note by passing a prestigious examination.

April Rowell, 16, is now an associate of the London College of Music after being awarded a clarinet diploma - meaning she is entitled to have the letters ALCM after her name.

The pupil at Canon Slade School, Bolton, already holds an Advanced Performers certificate and later his year hopes to continue her success by attempting the Licentiateship exams.

April, who has been involved in music since she was four, also plays the flute and saxophone to grade 8 standard. She has been a member of the Lancashire Students Symphony Orchestra for the past three years and has also been selected for the Great Britain Wind Orchestra and the National Schools Symphony Orchestra.

One of the highlights of this year will be when she travels to London in August to play at the Proms concerts in the Royal Albert Hall.

April, who lives with her parents Philip and Judith and sister Judith, 13, in Earls Drive, Hoddlesden, has six different music teachers.

Mr Rowell, who is head of mathematics at Norden High School in Rishton, said: "April absolutely adores music. If she is not playing it, she's listening to it.

"What she has achieved at 16 is something people a lot older struggle with. The exam she has just passed is basically the music world equivalent of climbing Mount Everest. The theory part included a five-page essay.

"Her talent takes her all over the country and abroad. We are all really proud of her, especially as she has done so remarkably well at the same time as studying for her GCSEs."

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