A YOUNG musician is following in the footsteps of some of the country's top musicians after achieving a place at a prestigious music school.

Amie Owen, 15, from Escrick, near York, has gained a place at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, which was also attended by last year's BBC Young Musician of the Year, Jennifer Pike.

Amie, a pupil at Queen Margaret's School, Escrick, started playing the violin when she was just six years old and took up the guitar two years later.

Amie's mum, Ruth, said: "I was absolutely thrilled when we found out she had got in because she did not think she would do it."

Amie will start at the school in September and will also study A-levels in music, biology and chemistry.

She said she was looking forward to living in Manchester and hoped to be a professional guitar player.

Updated: 10:53 Wednesday, June 04, 2003