Young cellist Daniel Lowe has beaten a medley of talented musicians to a coveted title at this year's Harrogate Music Festival.

Blooming youth: Teenage cellist Daniel Lowe, who was voted Young Musician of the Festival at the Harrogate Music Festival. Picture by Mike Tipping

Daniel, 14, was voted Young Musician of the Festival at the final concert held in Harrogate last week for his performance of Chant de Menestral, by Glazunov, and Serenade, by Silk.

The Bootham School pupil, who at the tender age of 12 achieved a distinction at Grade 8, and also plays the piano, is one of the school's most talented musical scholars.

Although Daniel suffered from a mild case of last-minute nerves before facing the 800-strong audience at the Harrogate performance, he said: "It wasn't too bad and I was fine as soon as I got up there playing.

"When I heard I had won I looked over into the audience and saw my granddad was crying."

Daniel, whose other interests include photography and sport, is an active member of the school's string quartet, cello group and orchestra, and regularly performs solo in concerts.

He started playing the cello at the age of five and was initially taught by his music teacher mother, Sue, before moving on to take lessons with a family friend in Leeds.

But despite all this obvious musical talent the ex- head chorister of the Minster School and member of Pro Corda, a national chamber music organisation for young people, is not yet sure if he will pursue a career in music.

Daniel said: "It is difficult to say at the moment but I'm definitely considering it."

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