A Year 8 student at Charters School in Sunningdale has been offered a place at Chetham’s School of Music for the next academic year following a rigorous selection process.

Chetham’s School is the UK’s largest specialist music school and is based in Manchester. It has 300 students aged 8-18, many of whom are boarders, and attracts students from around the world who study there full time.

Students are selected based upon their musical ability and receive a prestigious musical education which prepares them for life as a professional musician, should they choose to go down this route. It is fiercely competitive, and it is a huge achievement to be accepted there.

"It's very exciting and quite frightening. But preparing for it was rather challenging," said Filip. "The audition for a place in the school consisted of an English test, a music aural test and the music audition which required me to prepare 2 contrasting pieces on the violin and 1 piece of my choice on the piano, and after successfully passing it, I was given a scholarship that reduces the cost."

Asked how much time he needs to spend on his music he replied, "During the Christmas holidays, I would usually practice 2 - 3 hours a day which just proves that practice makes it perfect!"

Filip will start at Chetham's next September when he enteres Year 9 and the move will be a huge change for him. "Attending and boarding in the school will be life changing for both me and my family; I'll receive high quality music mentors and the academic routine is adapted for everyone as the school is based around music. Chetam's School of Music is in Manchester, therefore I will most probably only be able to come home once or twice a month, but overall my parents and I all agree that me joining the academy will be a positive impact on me and my future careers."

We wish Filip every success for the future and congratulate him on this incredible achievement.