AN accordionist from Sutton is back from seven years of studying at one of the world's top schools of music.

Thom Hardaker, 24, has 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, who returned to England last month, said: "It's nice to be back. A bit of a culture shock, and I'm getting use to the English way of life again!

"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.

"It's been a bumpy ride to get to the finishing line, but I've absolutely no regrets. It was the best cultural experience I could have wished for, and it really helped me develop as a musician.

"I must have met people from nearly every nation in the world, and if I had the chance to move back today I'd do it.

"When the professor asked me if I would like to go and study in St Petersburg it was a breath of fresh air, and it opened my eyes to the rest of the world."

Thom will be taking part in a music competition in northern Italy next month, and hopes this will give him a further opportunity to make a name for himself.

"I want to perform professionally around Europe, and if possible around the world," he added.

Thom, a former South Craven School pupil, has been playing the accordion since he was just six-years-old.

He paid special tribute to his Cross Hills-based teacher Harry Hinchcliffe. He stressed that he would not have had the chance to study in Russia without Harry's support.