A 14-YEAR-OLD cornet player has been selected to join a prestigious national band.

Luke Barker, 14, a solo cornet player in Shipston Town Band, was chosen to be part of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

Whilst he is part of the band, Luke will have Easter and summer courses with concerts at Cambridge, The Barbican, The Albert Hall Nottingham and Repton School in Derbyshire.

David Birch, secretary of Shipston Town Band said: "He has worked really hard and put in hours of practise to get to this stage.

"It took a lot of time and effort to prepare his audition pieces but it worth it and he is now really looking forward to this opportunity.

"It goes without saying that the band are extremely proud of Luke."

Members of the band can be any age up to 19 so Luke is likely to be one of the younger members

Luke auditioned for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, the country's premier youth band, in October and was subsequently offered a place.

He began playing with Shipston Junior Band at the age of seven and joined Stour Concert Brass the band’s non competitive community band at the age of 9.

He was appointed principal cornet as young as 10, a position he still holds.

He currently also plays with the town band where he is assistant principal cornet.

In 2015 he was offered a place in the National Children's Brass Band.

In 2016 on his second course he was promoted to assistant principal cornet.

Luke also retains his membership of the National Childrens Band and will be attending their course in the summer.