AN ASPIRING harpist from Dollar has earned a spot at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Hannah Middleton, who lives in Dollar, will soon start her bachelor of music (performance) undergraduate degree at the RCS in Glasgow.

The 18-year-old is undoubtedly talented on the harp, having won first place at last year's Glasgow Music Festival Open Harp Competition.

Formerly a pupil at Dollar Academy, Hannah has spent the last two years at Douglas Academy's specialist music school in Glasgow.

It all started at primary school music classes when she was about eight and Hannah immediately took a liking to the clarsach or Scottish harp.

She has also been at Junior RCS since P6 and has also been learning the full-sized pedal harp for the past five years, taking lessons from Sharron Griffiths, principal harp instructor at the conservatoire.

Hannah comes from a musical family with her mother Jill teaching young talent at Alva Academy.

Proud dad Stuart told the Advertiser: "She's worked really hard, it's been a dream to get into the conservatoire, she's got a lot of friends there.

"We are really proud; it's a super achievement."

Over the past few years, Hannah also had the opportunity to showcase her talents as part of the junior, senior and full National Youth Orchestras of Scotland as well as the West of Scotland Schools Orchestra, Perth Youth Orchestra, Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and various school orchestras.

She has also attended numerous masterclasses with harpists of international renown from the leading conservatoires and orchestras of the world.

The talent from Dollar has also been playing at recitals and private events, such as weddings.