A YOUNG Saundersfoot double bass player has been awarded one of the most prestigious scholarships in classical music.

Edmund Hartzell, who is 22, has won a full postgraduate scholarship to study for a Master of Music degree at Trinity College of Music in London.

Hes also scooped a Prince of Wales advanced study award in music. The auditions for this top music honour took place in both London and Cardiff earlier this year.

Edmund said: Im delighted and honoured to be chosen for these two awards.

The double bass is a beautiful instrument and I feel privileged to be able to continue playing it in such a delightful environment as Trinity College.

For the last three years, Edmund has taught double bass in the junior department of the Royal College of Music  - while still an undergraduate.

He continues to develop an already distinguished career as a soloist. He performed the Bottesini Concerto to a  packed house in Oxford last summer.

And hes toured Washington DC for two years running, performing the virtuoso solo double bass role in the Benjamin Britten opera - Albert Herring. This was led by renowned conductor Lorin Maazel.

Edmund is no stranger to musical success. He was a finalist in the Texaco Young Musician of Wales in 2005.

Edmund said: Ive two main aims. One is to make the double bass more popular in the UK.

My second is to secure recognition of the double bass as a solo instrument - a role which it last enjoyed in the 18th century.

Edmund is the son of Peter and Jan Hartzell, one of Pembrokeshires top piano teachers.