A CULLINGWORTH schoolgirl has gained a place at the largest specialist music school in the UK and the only one in the North of England.

Phoebe Mallinson, 11, a member of Bradford Council’s Delius School, will begin studies at the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester in September.

Phoebe follows her sister, Freya, who has been a pupil at the school in Manchester since 2014.

Phoebe has been playing the cornet for two years and in the last year has moved onto flugel horn.

She is part of the Bradford Music Education Hub’s Bradford Youth Brass Band, BD1 Brass Band, Yorkshire Youth Band and the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain. She also plays trumpet in the Bradford Youth Orchestra who toured in Italy last year.

Phoebe’s favourite performance was coming second at the national brass band championships in Cheltenham in 2016.

Phoebe’s mum Colette said: “We will really miss Phoebe when she starts at Chetham’s in September but this is a chance of a lifetime, and we are delighted that she will have the same opportunity as Freya.

“Bradford Council’s Music and Arts Service has made a huge difference in Phoebe’s playing especially Delius School where she gained the skills for composition and other performance skills.”

Felicity French, assistant head of the council’s Music and Arts Service, said she was delighted that Phoebe had followed other Delius School pupils into the prestigious establishment.

Felicity said: “The Delius School was set up by the Music and Arts Service.

“It meets once a month on a Sunday morning and offers the most talented young musicians in primary schools, across the district, the chance to develop their skills in all areas of music, while discovering exciting new activities. Students take part in workshops which enrich their musical experience.”