SCHOOLGIRL pianist Sarah Gardner has been invited to play in a prestigious musical festival.
The nine-year-old pupil at Teesside Prep School, Eaglescliffe, will take part in the Sunderland Festival of Young Pianists alongside older and more experienced musicians.
The youngster, from Elton, near Stockton, has prepared a 15-minute programme for the event, which is part of the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens Festival, due to be held from May 16 to 18.
The talented young musician has already achieved major successes in local music festivals.
She won the Janet Gorman trophy at Stockton Music Festival and is studying for her grade four piano exam.
Her father, Stephen, said: "Sarah hadn't touched a piano until she started at Teesside Prep School two-and-a-half years ago. Now she really enjoys music and sings in the school choir and plays in one of the school chamber trios."
Sarah will also be competing at Saltburn Music Festival in June.
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