TWO musical brothers who have made the streets of St Helens their stage after travelling around the world have gained a placement at a prestigious music college.

Hamish Hutson-Hill, 15 and younger sibling Aidan, 12 have been catching the eye of passers-by over the past few months with their live busk performances in order to help them raise money to afford their course fees.

The pair, originally from New Zealand, have lived in Sutton with mum Susie for the past six months, having spent the last three years following their musical interests in South Australia.

They will both start at the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester this September. Hamish specialises in the clarinet, having won many awards and being offered a place in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Meanwhile, Aidan is a classical singer, violinist and pianist who is a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain as well as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir. He performed at 26 concerts last year, including a title role in a professional production of Amahl and the Night Visitors.

And mum Susie Hutson, 43, who had to bring the boys to the country as a one-parent family due to their dad being unable to work and live in the country due to immigration rules, says the backing the boys have received from the public has been a huge help.

"The support of the St Helens people has meant a huge amount to the boys and to me," said Susie, a registered nurse currently working as a carer.

"They are so friendly and supportive. It was a bit scary returning to my birth country as a solo mum, not knowing anyone nor having much in the way of family left here and I have been very grateful to come to such a sociable town with such helpful people. Without the local support we have had, the boys would not be able to achieve their goals.

"The boys busk when they are not too busy with their school work or audition practise and when the weather is good and they are looking forward to busking more during the summer weeks."

"Coming from little old New Zealand it’s hard to know what to expect. We have all heard of the famous music schools here but we had no idea of what their chances would be like of getting in.

"I'm very proud of the way they have the guts to just go for it, without focussing too much on the consequences.

"They both went about their auditions very calmly and with confidence and there was much excitement when the letters arrived."