Leslie Sutton, on the staff of the Birmingham School of Music, accepted him as a student and for nearly two years guided him during this formative period of his career. He joined the Midland Youth Orchestra under Blyth Major and on several occasions in later years was able to return as a soloist for the orchestra's concerts. Following the family's move to Croydon, Surrey in 1959, he obtained a music scholarship to continue his secondary education at the Trinity School of John Whitgift. He pursued his cello studies at the International Cello Centre, London under Milly Stanfield and Maurice Eisenberg. He won prizes at music festivals and scored successes in music exams, eventually gaining the Silver Medal of the Associated board of the royal schools of music. As a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain he became principal 'cellist and subsequently appeared as a soloist with the orchestra. British citizenship was granted in 1963. In the following year, he entered the Royal Academy of Music on the coveted Ada Lewis Scholarship and his training continued there with Douglas Cameron. He was placed second in the Queen's Prize, one of this country's leading competitions for young professionals, and he further distinguished himself by winning all the Academy 'cello and chamber music prizes for which he was eligible. On leaving the Academy in 1967 (where he was appointed as a full member of the professorial staff in 1976) his winning the BBC Cello Competition with a "remarkable interpretation" of Dvorak’s cello concerto.
Leslie Sutton, on the staff of the Birmingham School of Music, accepted him as a student and for nearly two years guided him during this formative period of his career. He joined the Midland Youth Orchestra under Blyth Major and on several occasions in later years was able to return as a soloist for the orchestra's concerts. Following the family's move to Croydon, Surrey in 1959, he obtained a music scholarship to continue his secondary education at the Trinity School of John Whitgift. He pursued his cello studies at the International Cello Centre, London under Milly Stanfield and Maurice Eisenberg. He won prizes at music festivals and scored successes in music exams, eventually gaining the Silver Medal of the Associated board of the royal schools of music. As a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain he became principal'cellist and subsequently appeared as a soloist with the orchestra. British citizenship was granted in 1963. In the following year, he entered the Royal Academy of Music on the coveted Ada Lewis Scholarship and his training continued there with Douglas Cameron. He was placed second in the Queen's Prize, one of this country's leading competitions for young professionals, and he further distinguished himself by winning all the Academy'cello and chamber music prizes for which he was eligible. On leaving the Academy in 1967 (where he was appointed as a full member of the professorial staff in 1976) his winning the BBC Cello Competition with a "remarkable interpretation" of Dvorak’s cello concerto.