A Forest trombonist has scooped the Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year title for the first time – despite having just three days to learn her programme.

A last-minute emergency left 16-year-old Rhiannon Symonds, of Forest and Wye Valley Music, fearing she would be unable to compete after her accompanist had a cardiac scare.

However she insisted the show must go on and collared Sally Horton, from Bream Primary School, to help her in a bid to secure the prestigious title which she nearly won last year.

Kristyann Symonds, of Forest and Wye Valley Music, said: "Rhiannon has only competed in the competition twice and made the final last year but this year went one step further to win it.

"She very nearly wasn't able to play at the final as her original accompanist had a cardiac scare on the Thursday before the competition so Rhiannon was left without an accompanist. Fortunately she was able to get Sally Horton from Bream to accompany her but she had to completely change her programme as the original pianist, who was still in hospital in a different area of the country to her home, had the music for the first programme. Basically Rhiannon had three days to learn a completely new 15 minute programme – obviously she did OK though."

The young player faced stiff competition from four other musicians in the county and had to perform in front of a panel of professional musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Kristyann added: "She is the first female bass player to win in the competition's 21 year history and also the first winner ever from the Forest of Dean."

As well as the title Rhiannon received a cash prize of £500 and the Oldbury Trophy which she gets to keep for a year.

This achievement is the latest Rhiannon can add to her list after she was also the youngest semi-finalist in the BBC Radio Two's Young Brass Award 2014 so she went to Manchester to record at the Philharmonic Studio with the world famous Fodens Band and was featured on BBC Radio Two's Listen to the Band programme.