YOUNG musician Rhiannon Symonds from Yorkley has just learned she has become the youngest trombonist in the UK to become an Associate of Trinity College, London (ATCL).

Rhiannon passed her Grade 8 with distinction back in March 2009 aged 11 and rather than enjoying her success she has been forging ahead ever since and has now just learned of her new achievement at the tender age of 13.

The ATCL which is a professional level qualification equivalent to studying and passing the first year of an undergraduate degree programme at a Conservatoire or University, is extremely hard to come by.

The holder is entitled to use post-nominal of ATCL after their name and wear academic dress, so it is usually not attempted until much later in life.

However Rhiannon's sterling performance of the Rimsky-Korsakov Trombone Concerto, Eugene Bozza's Ballade and Ferdinand David's Trombone Concertino at an audition in March was more than enough to convince the examiner to award her the title.

"It has been an amazing few months," Rhiannon said.

"In January I competed in the Chandos Young Musician competition and was awarded the most promising musician title. I have now been asked to participate in the orchestra in June.

"Then in February I won the Newark National Brass Festival which was really hard because the competitors were from Wells Cathedral School, Chethams Music School and members of the National Youth Orchestra. But I was quite happy with the way I played and thankfully it was enough to win."

"In March I was lucky enough to be invited to play the Ferdinand David Trombone Concertino with the Solihull Symphony Orchestra which was an incredible experience and I would love to play more concertos with orchestras now.

"It was also great preparation for my ATCL which I took a couple of days later. The exam was really scary but exciting too."

Rhiannon, who is also a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and currently Principal Trombone with Lydbrook Band, is now looking forward to a slightly quieter few months before embarking on a summer tour to Leipzig with the Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra.