WHEN a Hayes teenager was told she should not blow her own trumpet she chose the French horn and became a champion.

Lyndsay Hooson, of Chatham Avenue, has proved she is not full of hot air by becoming the LBC Radio Young Musician of the Year and she will be jetting off to America on Saturday as part of her prize.

LBC was so impressed by the 16-year-old's audition she was invited to a top London hotel to play live in front of a panel of judges. After blasting out hits from Cabaret and Les Miserables, she blew away thousands of young hopefuls to take the top spot.

Lyndsay, who joins Philip Siu, of Middlesex, to play in America's oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in Philidelphia, says it is "like a dream".

She added: "I've never been to America before so I am really excited. The parade will be great."

Lyndsay, who has been playing the French Horn since she was eight, will be playing in the New Year's Day Parade in London when she flies home.

She performs in Langley Park Girls' School orchestra in Beckenham, and in the Belvedere Concert Band.

November 12, 2001 14:06