A PLYMPTON musician who got his first break through a Plymouth organisation has joined one of the world's most famous orchestras.

French horn player Andrew Maher, 28, has secured a permanent post with the Hallé.

Andrew's remarkable talent prompted Plymouth Music Accord (PMA) to get him his first professional engagement in 2002 under its Young Musicians' Platform scheme.

He played a Strauss concerto with the South West Sinfonietta, which invited him back twice.

Since then Andrew has played on short-term contracts with many of the UK's leading orchestras. He toured Japan and South Korea with the BBC Philharmonic and this summer played with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Now, after successful trials, he has been invited to join the Hallé by the orchestra's musical director, Sir Mark Elder.

The Hallé, based in Manchester, is Britain's oldest permanent professional symphony orchestra.

Andrew wrote to PMA to thank the body for its early encouragement and support.

The PMA helps individuals and organisations involved in music and publishes a Concert Diary twice a year in February and August.