Jennifer Pike

Jennifer Pike

Six years ago, at the age of 12, violinist Jennifer Pike became the youngest ever winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year - a record she still holds to this day. There were the inevitable mutterings of pushy parents, predictions of burn-out and heated debates about whether it was right to thrust a child into a professional career before she had even hit puberty.

But six years on, Pike appears to be about as well-adjusted an 18-year-old as you could expect. She spent most of her adolescence quietly learning repertoire and getting experience as a soloist with a variety of orchestras and has generally managed to stay out of the media spotlight. But her recent record of prizes and high-profile concert engagements, culminating in her becoming the first classical musician ever to win The South Bank Show's Breakthrough Award last year, proves that this is a violinist who can no longer stay in the shadows.

'I felt very musically passionate from when I was very young and I felt very comfortable on stage'

'I don't think I felt too young,' she says of the BBC competition win. 'I didn't feel 12 when I was playing. I felt very musically passionate from when I was very young and I felt very comfortable on stage, so it didn't feel too early.' And she brushes off the pushy parents question: 'My family were hugely supportive. My father made sure I wasn't doing too much. He made sure it was balanced and that I learnt the repertoire calmly. He let me do what I wanted.'

After winning the contest, Pike continued to study at Manchester's Chetham's School of Music, where her father is head of composition. Two years ago, when she was 16, she began an MA in performance at London's Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she studies with David Takeno. 'He's a really inspirational teacher,' she says. 'He's amazing. He knows absolutely everything there is to know about the music world and music and he is in a position to give me a lot of advice.'

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