'My lucky break into music'

The competition showcases young musicians

Teenager Shona Kipling has won her way through to the final of BBC Radio 2's Young Folk Award.

But her story could have been very different, but for a lucky break.

For when Shona was just 10 she badly broke her arm in a roller-blading accident and her dad, a GP, 'prescribed' the accordion as physiotherapy.

"My dad prescribed it for physio and it did lift my mood. Breaking my arm was the best thing that ever happened to me."

Enchanted

Dr David Kipling, of County Durham, explained that his daughter had been enchanted by the accordion after hearing it on the radio.

"She enjoyed it and said that she would like to be able to play it herself, so I said that once her plaster came off I would get her one.

Breaking my arm was the best thing that ever happened to me

Shona Kipling

"We got her a second-hand accordion and asked a retired miner to teach her.

"He soon said she would need a better accordion and a better teacher so we sorted that out."

And Shona has since gone from strength to strength.

She admits that she is really nervous about the Young Folk Awards final on 6 December, but said that she was delighted to have got this far.

Nervous

"I am really nervous, but I am trying not to get myself too wound up.

"It is doubtful that I will win."

But she said that just getting to the final would act as a showcase for her work in the music industry.

The 16-year-old is studying music at Durham High School and hopes to go on to take a folk-based music degree course at Newcastle University.

But she admitted that despite the fact that she regularly gigs locally with FolkESTRA North (Folkworks regional folk youth ensemble) that few of her friends have been bitten by the folk bug.

"My friends don't listen to folk music, but they don't give me too much hassle.

"They think it is quite good and are quite proud of me," she said.

Excerpts from the concert will be broadcast on the Mike Harding Show on Wednesday 11 December, 8-9pm on Radio 2, 88-91 FM.