A TEENAGE musician from Suffolk has become the first person from western Europe to win a prestigious international violin competition held in Romania.Jeanine Thorpe, 13, delighted the judges with her playing at the Enescu International Violin Competition in Bucharest.

A TEENAGE musician from Suffolk has become the first person from western Europe to win a prestigious international violin competition held in Romania.

Jeanine Thorpe, 13, delighted the judges with her playing at the Enescu International Violin Competition in Bucharest.

Although one of the youngest competitors, Jeanine said she was not nervous, even though the event was her first major competition.

"I was not nervous at all. In fact, I was very excited to be playing and enjoyed the experience very much," she added.

Jeanine was not the only one to enjoy her playing as her recital of works by Paganini, Waxman, Prokoviev and Enescu, enthralled the judging panel.

The Russian chairman of the judging panel told Jeanine he had heard something in her playing that he had never heard before.

There was also praise for Jeanine from the widow of the composer Enescu, in whose honour the competition is held.

She said that the Suffolk youngster had "played like a swan" and added her playing had been the best interpretation of her late husband's work she had ever heard.

Jeanine, who lives in Framlingham, arrived back in Suffolk on Sunday with a trophy, a new violin, as well as a book and diploma. "I am still trying to take everything in, but I am so pleased," she said.

The success in Romania has spurred Jeanine on to fulfilling her ambition of becoming a violin soloist.

The judges in Romania were in no doubt she would fulfil that ambition and predicted a fine career ahead for the talented youngster.

If Jeanine showed no signs of nerves at the competition, the same could not be said of her mother Gill, who accompanied her daughter.

"I was very nervous throughout the competition, but Jeanine was just fine and was able to take everything in her stride," said Mrs Thorpe.

It has been a busy year for Jeanine, having spent the summer in Switzerland attending the Margess International Music School and playing at concerts in Norway.

Jeanine and her mother also travel regularly to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and are extremely grateful for the sponsorship they have received from Anglia Railways.

Next summer Jeanine will be taking part in the Kocian International Violin Competition in Prague as well as returning to Oslo for a one-week course and to play in the week-long Valdress Festival.