A classical musician who has previously reached the final of a prestigious national competition has again been awarded for his success, by being given the chance to play at Buckingham Palace.

Dereham Times: 19-year-old Rob Burton will play classical saxophone at Buckingham Palace in May this year. Picture: Timothy Ellis19-year-old Rob Burton will play classical saxophone at Buckingham Palace in May this year. Picture: Timothy Ellis (Image: T.Ellis)

Rob Burton, 19, reached the grand final of the BBC Young Musician competition in 2018 and has since performed classical saxophone all over the country.

Now he is set for one of his biggest honours yet as he prepares to play in front of a number of guests at Buckingham Palace on May 22, including the Duchess of Kent.

Mr Burton is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music and regularly comes back to Norfolk, as his mother's side of the family is originally from Scarning, near Dereham.

He said: 'In 2016, I was the winner and awardee of Future Talent's Coombs Scholarship, which financially helped me attend music courses abroad and purchase equipment.

'I was invited by Future Talent to perform at their event in Buckingham Palace, where I will play for their guests including their patron, the Duchess of Kent. It's a great opportunity and one I'm really excited about.'

Since performing in the final of the BBC Young Musician competition, Mr Burton has also played with the Silk Street Sinfonia and has performed solo recitals at Cheltenham Music Festival, the Charles Wood Festival in Northern Ireland and at Windsor Castle.

He is also set to return to Norfolk for a concert in Norwich on Thursday, March 28, where he will perform with pianist Christine Zerafa.

Mr Burton added: 'The exposure of the BBC Young Musician competition has been amazing in allowing me to perform all over the country in recitals and as a concerto soloist, as well as in Jersey, Guernsey, Ireland and an invitation to perform at a festival in Venezuela.

'A lot of my family are from Norfolk and performing in front of them, as well as family friends and everyone else in the audience, will be very special.'

The concert will take place at The Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich at 1pm and tickets cost £12.88 plus booking fee and can be bought online.