A TALENTED teenager has joined a prestigious London orchestra and secured one of a handful of college places after a lifetime of devotion to music. Michael Cuthbert, 18, of Cornworthy Road, Dagenham, has joined the percussion section of the renowned Lond

A TALENTED teenager has joined a prestigious London orchestra and secured one of a handful of college places after a lifetime of devotion to music.

Michael Cuthbert, 18, of Cornworthy Road, Dagenham, has joined the percussion section of the renowned London Schools Symphony Orchestra at the end of last year.

The A-Level student from Jo Richardson School, Gale Street, Dagenham, has also been accepted on the Drum Kit and Percussion programme at Trinity College of Music in Greenwich.

He said: "I couldn't believe it. I think they accept about five people every year for the percussion course."

On 7 January, he performed in one the LSSO's three annual concerts at the Barbican Centre in central London.

Michael said: "That was a bit scary. But the more you perform the easier it gets.

"I really enjoy doing it, I like performing and playing.

"I was meant to be a musician."

Now he can't wait to become a working musician in the West End someday, although he remains level-headed and modest about his future.

"I never started playing music to become famous and rich," Michael said.

"I decided to do it because I'm enjoying it."

With a broad taste in music, Michael has a lot of styles to choose form.

He said: "I do listen to classical music but I'm also going to be doing Jazz stuff and World Music, and I listen to Pop music as much as I can."

He discovered his love for music at the tender age of five and said: "I just loved the sound of the piano.

"I was the one who came up with the idea of music lessons and I'm the first person in my family to study music."

Two years later he was in awe when he saw a live band play during a family holiday.

He said: "I stood and watched the drummer for ages."

Within ten years he had gained the Royal College of Music Grade Eight with Distinction for playing the percussion and is about to sit Grade Six in piano.

Wendy Evans, Director of Music Specialism at Jo Richardson, said: "We wish him every success for the future and will be very proud to say 'we knew him when...!'