Honour for piano star Carmen

An 11-year-old girl, who received the highest mark in Wolverhampton for a grade four piano exam, was given the honour of playing in front of the mayor.

Carmen Shea was asked by the exam board for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London, to play at Councillor Ian Brookfield's worship.

Receiving lessons every week at the Midland Music Academy, Carmen is the first girl from the academy to be asked to play to the Mayor of Wolverhampton.

Darren Guest, the academy's director of music, said: "This is the first time the academy has been asked to present a pupil that has done so well in the exams.

"Carmen has been such a good pupil that has done well every time she has performed, getting distinctions.

"I think she wants to go all the way up to grade eight now as to be half way through the grades at 11 years old is very good.

"She performed for us at an event at Tettenhall Green recently as well. A lot of people attended that event and she performed live so there will be more live performances coming from her in the future."

Asked about how the performance in front of the mayor went, Mr Guest added: "The feedback I got was that it was an exceptional night of musical talent from across the city and that the mayor thoroughly enjoyed it."

The academy is a non-profit organisation founded in 1995 by Mr Guest and the Academy's principal Lynn Barton. It teaches guitar, drums, keyboard, piano and saxophone to students, as well as singing lessons.

Asked about how they nurture talent such as Carmen's, Mr Guest said: "What we do is that we insist that all our pupils have a lesson with us every week because its important they keep working.

"We like to do a number of exams each year for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music as well."

[gallery]