A 15-YEAR-old who can play three instruments has been awarded Young Musician of the Year 2018.

Ellie MacLeod, a year 10 pupil at the Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School in Hereford, was given the award from the Herefordshire Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) at a concert at the Courtyard Theatre.

The concert was staged by the Herefordshire Music Service (Encore) and featured their brass and concert bands – Ellie plays flute in their Youth Concert Band which rehearses most Saturday mornings at Hereford Sixth Form College. Festival organiser Carol Thompson presented the award.

Jon Weller, teacher, accompanist and manager at Encore, described the annual competitive festival, which runs for a week and is in its 84th year, as a great opportunity for young musicians to gain the experience of performing on stage at the Courtyard Theatre in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.

Back in March, Ellie entered the festival classes of grade 7 woodwind (flute), grade 7 piano and transitional grade strings (harp), winning all three.

She has private tuition for piano but is taught flute and harp at Bishops and is a member of numerous musical ensembles and choirs the school offers.

Ellie, from Bishops Frome, received her prize of the Lazenby Trophy, a cheque for £75 and tickets to a Courtyard production of her choice.