Troon schoolboy gets best exam grade in Scotland

Oct 3 2008

A WELLINGTON schoolboy looks destined to follow in the footsteps of former pupil Nicola Benedetti with a career in the music industry.

Michael Foyle has achieved one of the highest mark in the country – 99 per cent – in his Advanced Higher Music.

And as if that’s not enough the 17-year-old also gained A grade Highers in English, Maths, French, Physics and History.

The achievement is the latest in what has been an extraordinary year for the Troon lad.

He was a piano finalist in the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year competition and won the Tabor Award for Promising Talent on the last night of the contest.

He then took part in the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall playing violin in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain's performance of Aaron Copland's challenging Third Symphony.

Modest Michael said: "It was nice to be part of a wonderful occasion."

The teenager has just been named his school’s head boy. And along with head girl Abby Brown and his sixth year pals, he is raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

All going well, Michael hopes to go to either Cambridge or one of the top London colleges to study music.

Headteacher Mark Parlour said: “Music is absolutely central to life at Wellington and Michael has been a prominent figure within the department, and nationally, over the years. In addition, he serves as a very valuable inspiration to all other musicians in the school.”