KINGTON’S Emma Powell has hit a high note after landing a place with the Welsh National Youth Opera (WNYO).

This year is already looking busy for the teenager as she prepares to juggle rehearsals in Cardiff with her A-levels this summer.

“I am excited, it should be good. It’s going to be a lot of travelling though,” she admits.

“There are going to be a lot of trains and lots of driving for my parents.”

And there will be no rest once the Lady Hawkins’ School pupil’s exams in English, music and French are over either.

As one of the youngest selected from hundreds who auditioned last year, Emma is expecting a place in the chorus line of WYNO’s new opera The Sleeper when casting takes place next month.

The 17-year-old, who has been helped by her singing and piano teacher Catherine Galloway-Prout, will then spend the rest of her holidays rehearsing ahead of performances in July.

Before the Millennium Centre production, she will have only ever appeared in churches and at various regional fund-raisers with male voice choirs from Hereford, Builth Wells and Dunvant.

After that, however, she will be getting to know Wales’ capital city better than ever when she takes up a place at the Royal Welsh College of Music in September.

“I think I will be nervous on the opening night,” she said. “But I am excited more than anything.”