A MUSIC prodigy is hitting all the right notes after she aced her grade eight saxophone exam – aged just 11.
Oakhyrst Grange pupil Freya Barker became one of the youngest people in the country to pass the exam – the highest grade you can achieve – which she did last month with the top mark, a distinction.
But the saxophone is not the only string to Freya's bow, she also plays the piano to grade seven standard and is studying grade eight violin.
"I really enjoy music," said Freya, who lives in Albury Road, Merstham.
"It is just something I love doing, I don't really know why."
But the youngster, who recently won the Most Promising Solo Performer for grade seven and eight in the Reigate & Redhill Music and Drama Festival, sees music in a unique way.
"I was listening to a song on the radio and it was one I don't really like," she said.
"I said to my mum that the song reminded me of the colour orange and I realised I see music as different colours depending if I like it or not."
Freya began playing music at the Stanstead Road, Caterham, independent school, where she has just finished her final year.
She will start at Worth School in West Sussex in September.
Her teacher Jason Gardner said he was amazed by her accomplishments.
"It is almost unheard of for someone to pass their grade eight this young," he said.
"She must be one of the youngest in the country.
"The students at Oakhyrst get a lot of support in their music."
Freya works hard to achieve such musical heights – getting up a 6am on a school day to practice her instruments.
She says it means she does not then have music practice and homework to do in the evenings.
Her mum Charlotte said: "I played the piano when I was young but nowhere near this level.
"Freya works so hard, it's amazing."
