WHEN Jordan Wong, from Hong Kong, began school in Monmouth he had only just been introduced to the organ.

Now, just four years later, Jordan Wong has been offered an organ scholarship to study classics at the University of Cambridge and defied odds to achieve a qualification rarely given to a school pupil.

Last Friday (February 13th), the 18-year-old discovered that the Royal College of Organists has awarded him its Associateship Diploma.

Jordan completed six hours of written papers, a recital, keyboard tests and tests of aural perception in front of three cathedral organists in London and Huddersfield to make the grade.

Jordan now has the letters ARCO after his name.

He said: "When I got the letter on Friday, I was really worried it was going to ruin my half term – I was so nervous, I asked my teacher to look at it first.

"I am surprised and relieved. When I started having organ lessons in Year 9, I definitely didn't think I would be achieving this today.

"I love playing the organ because it's something different. It opens up a lot more in music to me than the piano."

After sailing through trials at Cambridge, Jordan, also a highly accomplished pianist, was awarded the Organ Scholarship at Jesus College, where he will begin reading classics in September.

"I was shaking all the way through the diploma recital – I was intimidated but it was a great experience, a lot like the Cambridge open trial," he added.

"I'm looking forward to everything about going to Cambridge.

"The fact I'm doing classics is amazing. I didn't even know what Latin was before I came here."