Young musician to start at top college

James, ten, will begin at the Royal College of Music’s junior department on his birthday of September 14.

He will be studying under Professor Alexander Boyarsky every Saturday. His mother, Michela Cocolin, said: “His place at the royal college is guaranteed until James is 18.

“After that, he can choose whether to audition for the undergraduate faculty at royal college or at another music conservatoire.

“James is very excited. You can really sense the atmosphere there. Main composers like Holst and Vaughan Williams studied there.”

James, of Frith Road, began to study the cello three-and-a-half years ago with a county teacher at his school, St Mary’s Catholic School in Bognor.

He left the county music programme within a year to receive personal lessons at the Regis School of Music until the summer of 2012.

He is currently studying with young cellist Jo Dee Yeoh in London every Sunday.

James won prizes in various music festivals in Portsmouth, Worthing and Chichester. They include the Arun young musician best instrumentalist under 12, the Portsmouth Festival Sonata Cup, and the Chichester Festival Tarisio Cup and Dibley Memorial Cup for the most promising string player.

Last March, James auditioned for the royal college close to the Royal Albert Hall.

James also went through to the final stage of the audition process at the leading Yehudi Menuhin International School in Surrey earlier this year. He spent three days there and took part in academic and music lessons with current students.

“His dream is to attend the Yehudi Menuhin school at some point in the future and to become a soloist,” said Michela.

“His idol – who also recommended James’ current teacher – is the renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, who is a dear friend of mine.”

She is seeking sponsors to help towards the cost of James’ studies.

She can be contacted on 07715 213355.