Ethan hits high note on exam

11-year-old Ethan Cawood, of Barnsley, passed his Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade 8 trumpet exam with merit recently, after five years of lessons at the Barnsley Youth Jazz Association.

The Association's joint musical director, Danny Hammerton, said: 'It's an amazing achievement for someone so young to pass their Grade 8 exam on their chosen instrument. We've had lots of fun along the way, but Ethan's motivation and true Yorkshire grit has propelled him to this fantastic result.

'It's taken a lot of focused practice and dedication to achieve what only a handful of students gain at this young age. Ethan's also an active member of the Barnsley Youth Jazz Association performing in our Swing Band and Jazz Orchestra on a regular basis.'

The Grade 8 exam of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music is one of the highest grade's students can gain prior to degree-level studies in the UK. It requires performing three pieces of music, which are marked on pitch, time, tone, shape and overall performance, as well as marks for scales and arpeggios, sight-reading, transposition and aural tests. The examiner's comments on Ethan's performance included a special mention of his musical playing which earned him the merit grade.