A TEENAGE horn player from Huddersfield is aiming to hit the high notes.

And he has already proved a winner – as the youngest musician to reach a top contest finale.

Jonathan Bates, 14, has reached the finals of the prestigious Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist Competition where he will be up against people up to seven years above him.

The contest has seen fierce competition from experienced young musicians from all over the UK.

The under 21s’ competition welcomes entrants with a grade 8 standard or above and standing proudly among them is Jonathan.

The Skelmanthorpe teenager plays tenor horn and has secured his place in the final just four years after picking up the instrument.

He took up music when he joined Thurlstone Band, where his father Graham is musical director.

Since then he has gone from strength to strength and is now a proud member of the world-famous Brighouse & Rastrick Band as 1st horn.

To get to the final, Jonathan recorded his audition with the Brighouse & Rastrick.

He won over the BBC producers and they invited him to the regional finals which were held at BBC Manchester, accompanied by the Foden’s Band.

Now he is through to the national final which takes place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on Saturday, February 20.

The finalists will be accompanied by the Black Dyke Band.

The competition will give the winner the opportunity to play with the BBC Concert Orchestra on Radio 2’s flagship live music programme: Friday Night Is Music Night, and to play as a soloist with a Championship standard Brass Band at a prestigious event.

Both will be broadcast on Radio 2.

Jonathan’s proud father, Graham Bates said, “Jonny’s success hasn’t come without hard work and determination.

“He has only been playing four years so to come so far in such little time is tremendous.

“We’re all delighted for Jonny. He has a natural gift for this instrument and is highly dedicated.

“He’s had great support from family, friends, bandspeople and tutors and we are looking forward to a fantastic night of music-making from four incredibly talented young musicians.”

Jonathan is a student at Shelley College and is taking his GCSE exams later this year.

He then hopes to take up a place at Leeds College of Music.

In addition to his Brighouse & Rastrick duties, he is also Solo Horn of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

The final will hosted by Frank Renton and the highlights will be broadcast on Radio 2 on Friday, February 26, at 9.30pm.