A YOUNG local violinist will have the chance to play alongside some of the UK’s top musicians in his age group.

Jacob Sidebottom (pictured) began playing the violin when he was aged six.

Now 10, he faced difficult auditions in London to land a place in the under-11s section of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.

He admitted he was very nervous about playing at the audition, at the Royal Academy last October.

‘It was really cool,’ he said. ‘I got to have a look around and then I had to play in front of a conductor and violin lecturer.’

He managed to land a place in the orchestra but, due to not living on the mainland, he has been unable to make it to any events so far, except this week’s music camp.

Jacob first started playing four years ago on an instrument one-eighth of normal size .

‘I was really interested in playing, and the violinists always start first in the orchestra.’

Since then he has grown and so has his violin. He now plays a half-sized one, as well as full percussion and the drums.