A YOUNG musician has achieved her GCSE music exam three years early – and with the top grade.
Thirteen-year-old Freya Smith, from Meltham, achieved an A* grade in the exam which is usually taken three years later.
Freya plays oboe, piano and keyboard. She composed two pieces for full orchestra as part of her GCSE studies.
Honley High School’s head of music Leigh Baker said: “Freya is a talented musician and is the youngest student I have ever known to achieve her GCSE with a grade A* and at such a high mark.”
Freya was recently among 67 outstanding young people to win an award from the organisation Awards for Young Musicians (AYM).
She received the 2009 Edith Hemingway Memorial Award. She has also been given £1,000 towards her oboe studies. Freya’s oboe tutor is Catherine Lowe, Principal oboe and cor anglais, of Orchestra of Opera North.
Freya has been a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain for the last three years; plays oboe with Kirklees Youth Symphony Orchestra and attends the Holme Valley branch of Kirklees Music School on Saturdays.
She said: “Music is so important to me; I love playing.”
Freya also studies piano with Jane Robertson and her singing tutor is Sarah Turnbull. She won trophies at the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival and Holmfirth Music Festival.
