Tom's on tune for VIP event (From Western Telegraph)

Tom's on tune for VIP event

9:00am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News

A Maenclochog teenager has been selected to play at a prestigious VIP event tomorrow, after he wowed the crowd at a recent music festival.

Ysgol Bro Gwaun pupil Tom Bourton has been playing the guitar since the age of nine and this year successfully auditioned for a place in the Swansea Youth Olion festival at the city’s Metropolitan University.

The festival attracted 1,500 people throughout the day.

Tom played a 20-minute solo acoustic set covering everything from Stereophonics to Eric Clapton.

The festival organisers were so impressed by Tom’s performance they asked him to play at a VIP celebration evening tomorrow (January 23rd), which will be attended by Welsh Government officials and representatives from Arts Council Wales.

“When I went to Swansea to audition I didn’t really know what to expect as I’d never auditioned for anything before. I was a little nervous, but figured I’d just go for it and hope for the best,” said Tom, who is currently studying for his GCSEs at Ysgol Bro Gwaun.

“The festival itself was great.

“Although I was nervous when I arrived, once I was on stage with my guitar I felt at home.”

Tom, who hopes to go on to to study for a music diploma at Pembrokeshire College, said he felt “really proud and honoured” when he was asked to play at the VIP event.

“Of course I said ‘yes’ straight away.”