TALENTED organist Philip Johnson will soon be leaving home at the age of 14 - to become a boarder at one of the north's top music schools.

Philip of Hook Lane, Blackburn, will be starting at Chetham's School of Music, Manchester, in September, after being awarded a scholarship.

The former St Wilfrid's High School pupil decided to concentrate on his music studies and Chetham's will provide him with an all-round academic education and specialist music tuition.

Philip, who plays the organ at Blackburn Cathedral, said: "My school music department was quite small so I'm very excited to have been chosen for this course.

"I think everyone was a bit shocked at first and my mum looked like she was going to faint."

The boarding school has 280 musically gifted pupils from the age of eight to 18, and offers education to A-Level in arts and science subjects.

Pupils also play in chamber groups, choirs and orchestras, and take part in concerts at the Royal Northern College of Music and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

Philip sang in the Cathedral choir and Youth Choir, passed Grade 5 in both piano and organ. In the latter, he gained 143 marks out of 150. He has also played the trumpet for six years.

He added: "I will been in school from 8.30am until 4.30pm, which is a bit longer than usual school hours. We are allowed to come home every third weekend."

Philip first became interested in music when he met Gordon Stewart, Blackburn Cathedral's Director of Music, at his former primary school, St Francis.

He hopes to continue his studies to university and would like to become a music teacher or lecturer.

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