A 15-year-old pianist has been wowing the country with her ability to compose music after landing second place in a national competition.
Freya Louise Crofts, of Clifton Way, Brizlincote Valley, was placed in second position in her category in the 2017 EPTA (European Piano Teachers Association) UK competition for composers.
She was entered into the prestigious competition by her piano teacher, Joanne Raffle, 32, who thought Freya had the ability to go far in the contest and impress the judges.
She said: “I am part of the European Piano Teachers Association which promotes excellence in piano teaching and it runs a competition and I was asked if I had suitable candidates.
I knew Freya was already a keen composer and she had composed for her GCSE music.
“She had to compose a piano piece of no more than five minutes, produce a score and a recording.”
She composed a piece called Waltz of Expectations which is a piano solo. The competition was adjudicated by Christopher Norton who wrote the award winning Microjazz series of piano pieces. His feedback said the piece starts with a lovely melody with an attractive accompaniment and effective harmonisation.
Mrs Raffle said: “I'm very proud of Freya's achievement and think she has a bright future in music and composition.
“I think it is fantastic she got second place. We weren’t expecting anything so it was a nice thing for her to do. And second place is excellent. She has a great future in composing and she came away feeling really inspired.
“She is keeping her options open about her future and is taking A-Levels in music, art, maths and science.”
As a winner Freya was also invited to attend a composers' workshop by Christopher Norton at Peregrine's Pianos on Gray's Inn Road in London.
