Chatteris teenager Bonnie Scott has won a place at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Academy with her harp

Teenager Bonnie Scott has scored a first for Fenland and possibly the county by gaining a place at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Academy with her harp.

The 15-year-old from Chatteris, who attends Witchford Village College, will take up her place from September and will be attending the London-based academy every Saturday.

Bonnie, who is the elder daughter of Nyree and Richard Scott, has been playing the harp since she was a Year 6 pupil at Doddington’s Lionel Walden School.

Her ambition is to become a professional harpist and her place at one of the world’s most prestigious music academies is a first step to making that a reality.

Her family have so far financed both Bonnie and her younger sister, 13-year-old Rosie’s harp-playing, but they are hoping someone locally may like to sponsor her to help with weekly travel costs to London.

Nyree said: “I used to play the harp, but they have both surpassed me now . Harps are a common sight where I’m from in Wales, but are more unusual here.

“Bonnie has already won various competitions including the District Rotary Young Musician East of England, she and Rosie have also staged fundraising events to help charities including Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and also autism.

“It is an expensive hobby, buying a harp is not cheap especially when you get to Bonnie’s standard and then we have the cost of transport to and from lessons, so any sponsorship would be really welcome.”

Both girls are also Aldeburgh Young Musicians and Rosie is the lead harpist in the National Children’s Orchestra, which is a rare feat for someone outside of Wales. Both girls are also members of the Cambridgeshire Harp Ensemble and Fenland Music Centre.

Nyree added: “We are not 100 per cent certain, as we haven’t been able to confirm it, but we believe Bonnie is the first person from this area to win a place at the Royal Academy for harp playing. We are very proud of her and her sister.

“They both practice hard and Bonnie can also play the electric harp, which is what she hopes will win her a place in a band in the future. There are groups that have harpists like Florence and the Machine.”

If you would like to help Bonnie’s harp career dreams come true contact: news@fenlandcitizen.co.uk