TALENTED musician Clare Duckworth is striking up the band as leader of the National Youth Orchestra.

The 17-year-old violinist, a pupil at Bury Grammar School, has been a member of the NYO for three years.

It was during her annual re-audition that she was chosen to be leader, a position she will hold for a year.

As leader of the orchestra, she will play a number of solo pieces and act as a mediator within the group.

Clare also plays the piano and percussion. She attends the junior school at the Royal Northern College of Music on Saturdays, and is a member of the National Youth Chamber Orchestra.

But despite her musical commitments, she still managed to notch up eleven A* GCSE grades this year.

Clare, who has been playing the violin since she was three, said: "I was very surprised when I was asked to lead the orchestra - it was quite a shock!"

When she leaves school, Clare hopes to go on to music college, with aspirations of one day playing professionally. She used to play with the National Children's Orchestra, and in her final year led the main orchestra.

The 160 NYO musicians, all under the age of 20, are selected through auditions held all over the country. This years concerts will include a BBC Prom at the Royal Albert Hall in London and a concert at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Next year is the NYO's 50th anniversary and in the Easter of 1998, they will be setting off on a European tour.

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