A MUSICAL teenager has been accepted to The Royal Academy of Music in London.

Talented Alexandra Whittingham, aged 18, plays the classical guitar and first started to play the instrument when she was six years old after being inspired by her dad.

Throughout primary school she played the acoustic guitar before she was introduced to the classical guitar by a private tutor and said she “just fell in love with it.”

Alex, who is from Kings Crescent in Tyldesley said: “I just love the versatility with it and the fact that you can do so much with one instrument it is so compelling.

“The classical guitar is often one of the most underplayed instruments. I think people think classical and think boring, but there are so many types of music you can play.

“I particularly like Spanish inspired music, flamenco music is beautiful.”

The former Cheetham School pupil, started at the Royal Academy a month ago and will this month be playing as guest guitarist with The Gorton Philharmonic Orchestra.

She said: “I never believed at 18 years old I would be playing with them.

“I am really excited and a bit apprehensive as to whether I will be able to keep up but I really can’t wait. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time.”

The determined pupil, who has passed her diploma two in classical guitar, also recently got through to the classical final in the Sky Arts programme, Guitar Star and go to perform with Miloš the award-winning classical guitarist.

Mum Sally Whittingham, aged 51 said she is very proud of her daughter.

She said: “She has worked very hard for what she has got and I am just happy that it is paying off for her and I want her to enjoy these next four years as much as she can.”

Alex added: “I am quite open minded as to what I want to do in the future as long as it involves music.

“But I would love to be able to travel with it to different countries and I have even been asked to play in a guitar festival in the south of France next year so I am really looking forward to that.

“I do sometimes have those days when I miss home but then I remember that I am here doing what I love so it doesn’t really get much better than that.”