Young Ferring cellist praised for her high standard

Jade Harvey has been described as a talented cellist who has already had the opportunity to play with the likes of Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra.

Jade, of Cedar Close, Ferring, is already working towards her grade eight cello exam – two grades higher than A-level – despite only learning the instrument four years ago.

The Sompting Abbotts school pupil said: “I like playing the cello as you can do all sorts of songs on it and all types of music.

“When I first came here I wanted to learn the flute but my teacher wanted me to learn the cello.

“It was difficult at first but as I got used to it, it was getting a bit easier.”

Apart from performing in school concerts, she has performed at St Mary’s Church, in Sompting, and during the Last Night of the Proms concert at the Assembly Hall, in Worthing, in October.

Jade, who first learned to play the piano when she was five, said: “It had a different feel about the orchestra but I prefer playing with people my own age.

“It was quite big and I felt a bit daunted at first but as it went on I got used to it.”

Annette Williamson, director of music at the school, is a member of Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra.

She described Jade’s talent as “incredible” and said: “It is a very, very high standard.

“I thought it would be a good experience for her to play with an adult orchestra and we were studying music and the British Isles in our school so I thought it was interesting for her to play some of the traditional music they have.

“A lot of people were very impressed with how she coped with it all.”