Teenager wins cathedral organ scholarship

Llewelyn Blezard-Greenwell started learning to play the piano when he was four

An 18-year-old musician has become one of the youngest people in the country to win a residentiary organ scholarship at a Welsh cathedral.

Llewelyn Blezard-Greenwell began learning the piano at the age of four and, when he was 10, became an apprentice at his village church in Gainford, County Durham, when its 94-year-old organist retired.

Mr Blezard-Greenwell, who takes up his scholarship at St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire in September, practices for up to eight hours a day.

He said he loves playing the organ because of the thrill he gets from "filling a vast space with sound".

Mr Blezard-Greenwell's musical skills have taken him around the UK and Europe, playing in renowned cathedrals and basilicas including Our Lady of Lichén in Poland which has six keyboards.

His mother, Felicity Blezard, said he enjoyed music from a young age and, even as a a baby, there was a clue to his talent.

"From the moment he was born he had very long fingers and everyone said he's going to be a pianist," she said.

"I didn't take it seriously back then, but maybe I should have done."

Aged 6, Mr Blezard-Greenwell could play the organ but was still too little to reach the pedals

Mr Blezard-Greenwell, who was born in Bangor and is a former pupil at Ripon Grammar School, said he was grateful for the support and mentoring he received from his music teachers, family and friends.

"They put up with far too much organ music being played on a daily basis," he said.

The scholarship at St David's Cathedral would "really enhance" his career and was the result of a lot of hard work, he added.

The Reverend Canon Eileen Harrop from St Mary's Church, whose organist husband Brian mentored the 18-year-old, said they were "delighted" with his achievement.

"He has such ability and passion," she said.

"We are amazed and we're so thankful that we're part of his journey."

The musician practices for up to eight hours a day

Assistant director of music at St David's Cathedral Laurence John said the scholarship "provides an excellent training ground for already talented organists to develop their skills" and former scholars had gone on to work in cathedrals around the country.

"We are all looking forward to working with Llewelyn this year and seeing where his career will take him in the future," he said.

• Listen on BBC Sounds: 'I love filling a vast space with sound'

The teenager's proud mother said: "It has been amazing seeing how he's grown from that first piano lesson.

"To watch him playing at a concert or in a service and seeing how people react to his music, it's really special to see."