Happy note as teen takes top music prize

A 16-year-old pianist described as a musical phenomenon has won this year's BBC Young Musician award, the top prize in a competition among the most promising young classical instrumentalists based in the United Kingdom.

Birmingham Junior Conservatoire student Lauren Zhang, who was born in the United States and whose parents are from China, finished ahead of two Britons - 18-year-old cellist Maxim Calver and 18-year-old saxophonist Robert Burton - in the final round, which was broadcast on British television from the Birmingham Symphony Hall on Sunday.

"I'm astonished, I'm pleasantly surprised and, wow, I can't believe it," Zhang said following her win. "I'd like to thank my family, as well as my friends and teachers for supporting me along the way."