AN Oxfordshire teenager is hoping to make musical history this autumn.

Oxford High School student Anna Lapwood is to become what is believed to be the first woman to win a prestigious organ scholarship at Oxford University’s Magdalen College in its 558-year history.

That’s as long as the 17-year-old from Chipping Norton gets the three As she is predicted to at A-level.

She said: “It’s amazing to know I’m the first female, but slightly weird because it’s basically a great added bonus.

“I’m so excited to just have won the organ scholarship, so to be sort of making history as well makes it even better.

“When I read the letter I just couldn’t believe it and as soon as I stopped jumping up and down I rang my parents and organ teacher.

“It does make it even more pressure to meet my AAA offer though, as so many people seem to know about the scholarship.”

If she does win it, Anna will play every morning at the college’s choristers’ practices and help teach music theory.

Anna said it would be an honour to represent women in the previously male-dominated role.

The teenager has been playing music since the age of six and, as well as the organ, has mastered the piano, harp, violin, and viola to grade eight standard.

She said it was such a shock because she has only been playing the organ for three years, and started it after completing her piano grades.

Anna is also the principal harpist in the National Youth Orchestra.

Home bursar of the college, Mark Blandford-Baker, confirmed she will be the first organ scholar but added there had been others in other colleges.

He said records about the scholarship run back until the post Second World War period, but the college only became mixed in 1979.

The college is one of three in Oxford well renowned for its music, with choral foundation status and choirs which often make musical recordings.

Anna added: “I love playing the organ.

“It took me a while when I started learning to get the coordination of hands and feet, but it’s so satisfying when it all comes together.”