SIX months is all it took for 16-year-old Sam Brough to pass his Grade 8 clarinet exam.

As a multi-instrumentalist, Biddulph High School pupil Sam plays at a variety of events and also passes on his musical knowledge to others.

Sam, who lives in Biddulph, began playing the trumpet at the age of 11 and joined the Biddulph and District Youth Orchestra just two years later.

His music teacher Sandra Downing then encouraged him to start playing the bassoon, which he excelled at, passing Grade 8 with distinction three years later, before moving on to additional instruments.

Six months ago, he took up the clarinet and whizzed through the exams to pass his Grade 8.

Sam also has Grade 5 in piano and plays the saxophone and oboe.

He not only performs locally but also plays his many instruments at venues abroad and is set to go to The Black Forest in Germany at Easter with Congleton Youth Orchestra.

During the summer, he will visit Dresden in Germany with the Keele University Concert Band.

As well as being a member of three orchestras Sam also plays as part of a number of quartets including the British Bassoon Cooperation, with members from Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.

Sam is hoping to continue his education at a music college and says he has already received good feedback from a number of professional musicians with a view to a career in music.

Sam has been nominated by his deputy head-teacher Deborah Bailey in the Bright Young Thing category of the Staffordshire Moorlands Community Awards.

Mike Hall, who is also a deputy head at Biddulph High School, said: "Sam is a very talented musician who plays in a lot of school shows and performances.

"He uses his musical skills to great effect in local groups and to mentor others."

"He is also a very gifted young man academically," Mr Hall added.

Sam said the nomination for the community award had come out of the blue.

He said: "It is nice to think that there are people who think of me so highly. I would like to thank my parents and grandparents for encouraging me as well as helping me financially with my music."