A CHANCE change of teacher provided the necessary impetus to elevate an enthusiastic and young guitarist into a teenager with a passion to follow a career around his favourite instrument.

George Collins may only be 17, but he is fully focussed on the path he has chosen and which has already earned him a recent win in the Pendle Young Musicians Bursary competition, in Colne, as well as an impressive fourth place in the International Guitar Competition: Lee Ritenour’s Six String Theory.

The competition is the inspiration of Grammy winning musician Lee Ritenour, who debuted the international competition in 2010 with the release of his all-star guitar CD, “6 String Theory”.

The biennial contest marked its sixth competition this year.

“There were entries from 186 countries and George was placed 4th in the Rhythm section which is particularly impressive when he was only just old enough to apply,” explained his mother, Gill.

The judging panel was fairly impressive too, including the guitar legends Lee Ritenour, Joe Satriani, Ray Parker Jr, and Joe Bonamassa.

Despite confessing neither she nor her husband, Gary, can so much as play the triangle, their three sons have taken to music: George, the younger of the three mastering the guitar, Olly, 20, a trainee accountant and middle son is a euphonium enthusiast while older brother, Will, 22, who has chosen a career in medicine, plays the drums.

George, from Stainforth, previously attended Settle Primary School and won a music scholarship to Giggleswick School for senior school.

He is currently studying A levels in music, music technology and design and also attends Leeds College of Music on Saturdays.

Most weekends he can be found gigging in local venues, most noteably The Talbot, in Settle, as a soloist and also as lead guitarist with his band Shrymp inc. - in which Will is the drummer.

However, the future of the band is limited with band members embarking on separate studies and George expecting it to fall silent soon as people following their own studies and careers.

His music has also been heard further afield and recently found his band playing at the famous Cavern Club, in Liverpool, thanks to the invitation of a friend of his father's; that was after the bouncer was persuaded to let them in because of their youth.

He was also invited to play as a mobile musician last year at Chris Evans’ Carfest South.

George started playing guitar when he was 10 but only realised his obsession when he teamed up with his teacher renowned jazz guitarist Neil Young from Bradley.

It was more than an imperceptible deviation of an earlier desire to become a physicist; a route he had toyed with taking two years ago.

Fast forward to the end of June this year and George found himself triumphing at the final of the Pendle Young Musicians Bursary where he won a share of an £18,000 prize pot to help fund his musical education.

“I was a bit embarrassed about winning because the three people I beat I felt were better in that they were classical musicians - a pianist, cellist and a trumpeter.

“I don’t really read music either and felt I wasn’t in a position to win,” he said.

However, despite his own misgivings and modesty, the judges deemed his music and playing superior and he has the silverware to prove it.

The grade eight guitarist, lives and breathes the guitar owning several including his favourite, a Fender Stratocaster, playing a mix of blues, funk and soul in the style of his idol, American singer-songwriter John Mayer.

"I heard his music and wanted to be just like him

A converted barn attached to the family home, complete with a private lounge and very think walls allows him to play to his heart’s desire without disturbing anyone.

“George is obsessed with anything to do with guitars and used the theme through his exams.

"For an extended project qualification he built a guitar, and for a GCSE element he built an amp for a guitar.

"He even a stool shaped like a guitar.

“He always manages to bring a guitar into anything he does,” said Gill.

The forthcoming school summer holidays are also to incorporate a musical theme when he heads to Boston, USA, in August, to study at Berklee College of Music Summer Guitar Sessions.

"I am really looking forward to it, One of the teachers is Tomo Fujita, who taught John Mayer," added George.

Mum and a friend of hers will be going too to ensure a safe passage into America while he heads off to class.

"It can be difficult for a teenage boy on his own getting into the USA so to make sure there are no problems I will be going too," Gill added.

He will then return home in time for The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, in Colne, to showcase his mix of music.

“It will be a great networking opportunity while I am out in America because contacts in the music industry are so important,” George acknowledges.

He has already earned a modest following of his own through Instagram.

After putting a few videos of his playing he gained 1,760 followers in just a few months.

"It is great because it gets you known among people," he said.

After A levels he hopes to win a place at the Academy of Contemporary Music, in Guildford, which boasts such Alumni as guitarist and singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and bass guitarist Ted Dwane, of Mumford & Sons.

From there he is setting his sights on a career doing what he does best.

He concluded: “I am not seeking fame and fortune. I just want to earn a living playing my guitar.”