TEENAGER Jasmine Heard has every reason to blow her own trumpet after winning a coveted place in the National Youth Wind Ensemble. The 16-year-old musician, who lives in Alcombe and is a student at West Somerset Community College, has played the trumpet since she was seven. And the talent which has led to her receiving weekly tuition at the renowned Wells Cathedral School has also resulted in her being one of just five trumpeters in the country awarded a place in the ensemble. Her mother Edwina told the Free Press: "We are very proud. "Secretly, it was something that Jasmine wanted very badly so she is delighted." Jasmine, who also plays piano, began her musical career when she was a pupil at Minehead First School. She is a member of her college band and last November stood in for Territorial Army volunteer Jonathan Webber at the Remembrance Day service in Minehead. With Jonathan serving in Afghanistan, it fell to Jasmine to play the Last Post and Reveille, winning praise from ex-servicemen and women and local dignitaries. As a member of the ensemble, Jasmine will attend a number of courses with specialist tutors later this year and in July will be heading off to Killarney, Ireland to perform at the 13th international conference of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. However, despite her achievement in the music world Jasmine has no ambitions to turn her talent into a full-time job when she finishes her education. A keen rugby player and member of the Somerset squad, the teenager has wide-ranging interests and is hoping to pursue a career in chemical engineering. "She loves her music but doesn't want to follow it at the expense of everything else," said her mother. Photo: Steve Guscott.