A STUDENT from Salisbury has been crowned winner of the Liz Lawrence Award for musical achievement. Christabell Pidduck was chosen by Wiltshire Music School members and presented with a £1,000 cheque.

The award is given to a promising student to assist with their music studies in higher education. Judges were particularly impressed by Miss Pidduck’s performances of pieces by Bach and Messiaen at an audition in August.

She began violin lessons at the age of three in Singapor, and she also learned drums, guitar and Chinese string instruments including the erhu and guzheng. She has been a member of Salisbury Area Young Musicians for a number of years and has also been active in the South Wilts Grammer School music department and in its choirs. Miss Pidduck plans to study music at Bristol University.