A REDDITCH musician has won a prestigious scholarship to study at the renowned Franz Liszt Academy in Hungary.

Michael Higgins, 24, a former pupil at Moatfield Middle and Arrow Vale High schools, has been awarded the Joseph Weingarten Memorial Scholarship and moved to Budapest last week to study for a year.

Michael, from Matchborough, has played a huge part in the musical life of Redditch and Birmingham since he was a young child, as a pianist, organist and composer and after leaving school, gained a degree in music at the Birmingham Conservatoire. He has just finished two years at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

From the early 90s, Mr Higgins was involved in the Palace Theatre, as a member of the youth theatre and later musical director.

A few years later he even took on the role as organist for Sunday services at HMP Hewell Grange.

A family spokesman said: "As a composer many of Michael's organ and choral works are published by the leading publishing house for church music, Kevin Mayhew Limited, since he became their youngest composer at age 17.

"Before this, when he was just 14, he was commissioned to write several songs which were recorded for sale with educational books in Singapore.

"We're all so very proud of him."

Michael also spent many years as accompanist or organist for various Redditch churches and groups, including Redditch Operatic Society, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, St Gregory's Church Centre and others in the Birmingham area.

Other accolades include accompanying the Royal Ballet in Birmingham and London and working at Birmingham DanceXchange until 2003.

His talent has taken him across the globe, performing in Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Italy.