ALEXA Mason has landed this year's Keldwyth Award and the £1,000 prize money that goes with it, after receiving the thumbs up from the judges at the Levens Hall final.

Alexa was born in Kendal, went to Endmoor Primary and Bentham Grammar schools and has just graduated from Glasgow's Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with an honours degree in Music (performance).

The next step for the 22-year-old soprano from Gatebeck is a post-graduate diploma in performance.

Purcell's Music for a While opened her award-winning recital, accompanied by Alexa Wightman.

The other finalists were Kendal's Jo Ashcroft (flute); Richard Evans (tuba), from Cockermouth; and Barrow mezzo-soprano Camille Maalawy, who each receive £200.

Set up by the late Reg Griffiths, who founded the Keldwyth Singers, the prestigious award is open to young musicians aged 17-22 from across Cumbria, studying music for a career.