ST Swithun’s pupil and cellist Lottie Mitchell, from Compton, who plays in the Hampshire String Quartet has performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The quartet (a Hampshire County Youth ensemble), played at the Music for Youth prom on November 12.

They played the first movement from the Quartet From My Life by Smetena.

The four girls, Natalie Rickard, Eleanor Shute, Rachel Maxey and Lottie, 17, have played together for nearly two years, performing regularly throughout the county, are funded by Hampshire County Council Music Service.

Attending different schools and colleges they rehearse at weekends and whenever their busy schedules allow.

They took part in the Music for Youth heats last year, got through to the second round and on the basis of their performance were selected to perform in the celebration concert.

Exhausted but exhilarated by the evening Lottie said: “It was an incredible experience encompassing the wonders of music.”