Music would seem to be Joe Chadwick's ticket to bigger things.

The talented 14-year-old cornet player has beaten off stiff competition to be shortlisted for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

Joe, of Greenacres Drive, Wantage, now has a nervous wait until January to find out if there is a place for him in the prestigious band.

The teenager, a member of Wantage Silver Band, has also just gained a distinction at the highest grade in national examinations.

Joe scored a distinction in The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade 8 B Flat Cornet exam. The King Alfred's School pupil has also passed piano and guitar exams.

Joe said: "I am really excited and I hope I get a place."

The teenager auditioned for the brass band in June at the Royal Academy, London.

He had to prepare a piece to perform, show his knowledge of scales and play a piece he had never seen before.

Afterwards there was a master class where further playing techniques were taught. Joe started playing the cornet when he was just eight years old after hearing about the silver band from school friends.

"It takes a while to get used to it but I seem to be quite musical," he said.

Joe's brother Christian, 11, and sister Ellen, nine, are also members of the silver band and are hoping to follow in his musical footsteps.

Mum Ann Chadwick, said: "I am very proud of him.

"I am not musical at all - it has all been a bit of a surprise."

Story date: Saturday 30 October

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.