A TALENTED young harpist from Lampeter has been named among a list of 136 exceptional young instrumentalists to win a 2018 award from the national charity Awards for Young Musicians.

The judges decided to award Cerys Angharad, of Pencarreg, a Robert Lewin Scholarship, named after the man upon whose legacy Awards for Young Musicians was founded in 1998.

The 10-year-old – a pupil at Ysgol Bro Pedr - achieved this accolade even though competition for the 2018 awards was said to have been greater than ever before in the charity’s 20-year history.

She will now receive vital financial help for musical costs as well as other individually tailored support such as mentoring, access to advanced skills workshops with professional musicians, masterclasses, and opportunities to attend rehearsals with orchestras and other musical partners.

All award winners will have the opportunity to take part in a day of cross-genre music-making with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at London’s Maida Vale Studios in December.

Cerys is one of only two harpists in the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain (Under-10s) despite only having been playing for two years.

She is taught by Llywelyn Ifan Jones, a professional harpist from Felinfach.

“I am shocked to be awarded the scholarship,” said Cerys. “I am excited to be going to London as I have never been before."

Mr Jones said: “I see first-hand her astonishing development and I am often bewildered by her ability to absorb my advice and elevate her level of musicianship and performance skills.

“It’s humbling to witness such great enthusiasm from a student as young as Cerys.”

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