ALTON College music department has celebrated a veritable symphony of good news as six students were offered places to study at top conservatoires.

• Joel Knee was offered places at: The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, the Royal Academy of Music and the Birmingham Conservatoire, to major in jazz.

• Ellen Drewe, previously at Amery Hill School, has been offered places at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study Composition. Trinity only offers seven people a place to study composition each year, and Ellen was offered a place on the spot. She said: “I wasn’t too nervous in my interview as my teachers, Pande Shahov and Phil Singleton, had spent so much time working with us on our applications.”

• Joe Bristow, previously at The Mountbatten School in Romsey, has been offered places at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Birmingham Conservatoire and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance to study jazz.

He said: “I am thrilled with the offers I have received, and couldn’t have done it without the help of the music staff at Alton College. As well as excellent individual instrumental teaching, everything we learn is put into context to help us have a wide musical knowledge and understanding. I am pleased I chose to study here.”

• Cam Barnett, previously at Weydon School, plays double bass and has been offered a scholarship at Birmingham Conservatoire and places at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, also to study jazz. He said: “Everyone at Alton College has been really supportive.”

l Jack Cousins, also previously at Weydon School,, has been offered places at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and also at Leeds College of Music to study jazz.

l Kieran Murphy, previously at The Petersfield School, has been offered a reserve place at the Royal Northern College of Music having auditioned on drums.