FIVE young Dorset musicians will be starting the next stages of their lives this week as they set off to music conservatoires in London and Oxford.

The students, all of whom are members of Broadstone Music Series, will begin their studies this month at their respective conservatoires.

Derry Sowinski, Joseph Berry and Lewis Lee who all studied A-levels at Bournemouth School, are attending Royal College of Music and Oxford Merton College.

Thomas Hardye School student Joe Lyndley is attending Royal College of Music alongside Lytchett Minster School student Sally Dando.

A spokesperson from Broadstone Music Series said: "We are delighted to announce that our senior young award winning students have, amazingly, achieved places in the highly competitive world-leading Music Conservatoires in London and Oxford and will be beginning their studies this month.

"We send them huge congratulations.

"It is rare for even one student in a county to achieve a place in a London Music Conservatoire due to the staggering competition, but this year we have five students going."

To celebrate the students' imminent departure, Broadstone Music Series held a special concert featuring performances from the students on Monday, September 6.

They performed solos with the locally born accompanist but now London-based pianist Helen Nicholas, alongside some chamber music that they studied at a recent summer school, including some popular classical movements.

Audience members were invited to share their success with a glass of congratulatory fizz after the recital.