A TALENTED teenage horn player will be headlining an annual concert named after a much loved choir director this Saturday (July 8).

Lydbrook Band’s solo tenor horn player Jack Lythaby will be joining Drybrook and District Ladies Choir for the 19th Margaret Rose Bursary Concert after winning the £750 prize awarded in her name.

The event at Drybrook’s Holy Trinity Church also includes last year’s winner, percussionist and pianist Lauren Thornell, from Westbury-on-Severn.

A member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, Jack from Lower Lydbrook is no stranger to winning awards, having won the Yvonne Walkerdine Music Bursary for young Forest musicians two years ago, and Lydbrook Band’s 2017 Trefor Evans Bandsman of the Year award.

The 17-year-old former Lakers pupil, who is studying for A-level studies and a Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music at Hereford Sixth Form College, said: "Music has brought me much pleasure and is something I wish to continue doing to the highest standard possible.

"It has taught me confidence, respect and how to communicate with people at all levels, skills that can be taken forward into any aspect of my future life."

The bursary was set up in 1999 as a tribute to former Drybrook and District Ladies Choir musical director Margaret Burford who died suddenly.

Spokeswoman Teresa Roach said: "The choir is very proud of the Margaret Rose Bursary and each year we have been amazed by the immense talent of the young people who take part in the auditions.

"We continue to keep in touch with those who have taken part over the years and follow their careers with interest, supporting them and giving them a local platform on which to display their various skills.

Jack plans to spend the bursary on expert tuition and aims to go on to study musical performance at university. Lauren is currently studying music at Cardiff University.

Saturday’s concert starts at 7pm. Tickets are available on the door and under 16s go free.