Violinist wins young musician title

Jennifer started playing the violin before she was five

A 12-year-old violinist has become the youngest ever winner of the BBC's prestigious Young Musician of the Year competition.

Jennifer Pike won the title after impressing the panel of international judges with her performance of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.

The daughter of a professional musician, Jennifer began learning to play the violin before she turned five and beat off more than 500 other competitors to secure the prize at London's Barbican.

She receives £2,000, a BBC Travel Award to further her studies abroad and a trophy designed by John Rocha for Waterford Crystal.

Auditions

Jennifer, from Cheadle in Manchester, was watched by an audience including her father Jeremy, the head of the composition department at Chetham's Music School.

The four other contestants in the final were percussionist Benjamin Bryant, pianist Sarah Tandy, horn player Angela Barnes and clarinettist Sarah Williamson.

Each received £2,000, while a bursary of £1,000 to the competitor who showed the most promise without reaching the final was won by trombonist Edward Jones.

The first stages of the competition were held in June and July last year, with a team of judges travelling the country for four weeks of auditions.