A WEST Devon youngster is this week celebrating, having earned a place at a prestigious music school to study violin.

Jonathan Hibbs, nine, of Postbridge, has been offered a place at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester.

Jonathan, a pupil at Widecombe Primary School, originally travelled to Chetham's for a lesson only — but while he was there was he invited to go back to audition for a place at the school, starting in September.

Jonathan said: 'I learned to play violin through the Suzuki method, with my teacher Sophie Tarleton — she's really cool.

'I'm so excited that I will be going to a school where I spend most of the day studying music.'

At Chetham's, as well as receiving academic and music tuition at the highest level, Jonathan will have the opportunity to play in chamber groups, choirs and school orchestras and take part in concerts held regularly in key music venues such as the Royal Northern College of Music and the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

With 290 students, ages eight to 18, Chetham's is the largest specialist Music School in the UK, and welcomes students from many different backgrounds, from all parts of the UK and from abroad.

Around 90% of the students are funded through the government's music and dance scheme, which means that what matters at Chetham's is talent, not background or the ability to pay.

Students are constantly achieving success through competitions such as the BBC Young Musician.

Out of the last four BBC Young Musician competitions, two out of the five category finalists were Chetham's students.