SUTTON accordion player Thom Hardaker is amongst young musicians from the region performing in Colne next month.

He is on the bill for the presentation night for the first annual Jessica Foxley Young Composer Competition.

The Sutton-based KVU Singers will perform six shortlisted compositions by some of the UK’s best young choral composers.

The event at Colne Municipal Theatre features performances by Thom and young mezzo soprano singer Samantha Oxborough.

The finale of the new national competition aims to inspire the next generation of budding young musicians.

Thom, 24, recently returned to Sutton after seven years of studying at one of the world's top schools of music.

He graduated from the prestigious Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory with the equivalent of a master's degree in music.

He was tutored in the accordion by Oleg Sharov, an expert in this instrument who is the head professor of the Conservatory's Folk Department. Thom also studied subjects such as philosophy, psychology and the history of music in Russia.

Thom said that the return to England, and English ways, had been a “bit of a culture shock”.

He said: "The Conservatory is seen as one of the best music schools in the world, and it was very demanding.

"But for me it's a very big accolade to be able to say I've graduated from there, and I'm so lucky to have been invited there in the first place.

The concert is on November 2 at 3pm. Visit themuni.co.uk or call 01282 661234 for further information.