JAMES and Jeremy Chen, of Ingleby Barwick, not only impressed the Redcar audience but also the examiner in their recent piano exams.

James scored 140 out of a possible 150 marks for his Grade 8 while Jeremy gained 143 for his Grade 5. The ABRSM examiner said the boys were “technically very impressive and musically communicative” in their playing.

Tutor Barbara White, a trained concert pianist, who is their teacher and also an ABRSM examiner, said: “I am not surprised with the results at all.

“James came to me 20 months ago and was working towards Grade 6 after learning the piano for just two years. He has never found anything technically hard and his musical maturity is way beyond his age.“ James, ten, has won many competitions, often competing against much older children and has taken part in concerts in this area and further afield. He has won the Stockton Music Festival Young Instrumentalist of the Year twice and last year was the youngest winner of the Darlington & Northallerton Rotary competition.

Jeremy, eight, started piano lessons in April 2012 and with his older brother setting the bar very high, he proved just as good, gaining distinctions in all his exams and performing in concerts and winning trophies in festivals.

The brothers recently performed during a Lady Thatcher Memorial evening with Lord Hurd and Lord Brittan as guests.

Added Ms White: “In more than 30 years’ experience as a teacher and as an examiner in the UK and abroad, I can say that it is extremely rare to see such young children achieve this level. They are naturally very talented, but also are dedicated and hard working and I have no doubt that they will have further success in the future.”

James has been offered a place at Chethams School of Music in Manchester, starting in September.