A TALENTED boy from Cam has been awarded a place in one of the world’s finest children’s orchestras for 2014.

Daniel Harding, 13, is to play the violin with the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain (NCO) next year after auditioning in October.

Daniel, who has played the violin for the last eight years, said he was thrilled about taking up his place with the orchestra.

“I am delighted to be offered a place in the main orchestra this year because I love playing my violin and going on the residential courses, playing for seven or eight hours a day with friends who love music too,” he said.

Daniel, who is a year nine pupil Marling School in Stroud and former Cam Hopton Primary School pupil, took his grade eight violin exam in July, which he passed with distinction.

The talented musician has managed to rise to prominence without private tuition. Teacher Jonathan Trim from Marling School has helped the young talent but has only ever had the standard 30 minute lesson a week in term time.

This year over 1,300 children applied for a spot in the NCO.

When asked by the Gazette if talented musicians ran in the family, Daniel’s parents Ruth and Joe said that they and his big sister had struggled to reach level eight on the piano while Daniel has achieved the same level at the age of 13 with only school lessons behind him.

“Learning the violin is usually not great for other people in the house but luckily for us Daniel has perfect pitch,” said Ruth.

“It wasn’t long before he sounded very pleasant. We’re very very pleased. This is a great achievement for him and I think it shows what can be achieved in without private tuition.”

Daniel will now undertake several residential courses, with tutors drawn from major national orchestras, specialist music schools and conservatoires.

Each course culminates in a performance, with the NCO main and Under 13s performing at prestigious venues across the country.

Ex-NCO members include Robin Ticciati, the Principal Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Daniel Harding, Principal Guest Conductor for the London Symphony Orchestra.