THEY say a man's best friend is his dog, but some blokes say their best friend is their partner, their wife, or the lad they met at senior school.

But to say your best friend is your cello could be construed as a little unusual, to say the least - especially when your cello sits next to you on a plane and even gets waited on hand and foot.

Rising international cello soloist Jamie Walton explained to me how his cello, who is rather like a best friend, featured in his life and how he would soon be bringing his companion with him to Worcester.

Jamie, who was born in Germany but now lives in north London, has already played in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, and is currently being booked up for concerts there next year.

"I have to get tickets for the cello on the plane because it's worth so much money, you can't just put it in with the luggage," said Jamie.

Jamie's first big break in learning the cello began at the age of 10 in England when he won a scholarship to Wells Cathedral School.

He studied there for six years before winning anther scholarship to the Royal Northern College of Music at 17, and was taught by Margaret Monicrieff.

After continuing to improve on his skills for five years, he graduated with two diplomas, followed by private tuition with William Pleeth for two-and-a-half years.

"He was a great teacher," said Jamie.

"I found my voice in terms of what I wanted to do. He told me to go out there and do it - he was such a great teacher, I haven't let anyone else teach me since."

Jamie, who plays as a solo artist, said he had a few stints in orchestras but it was hard for him not to want to play on his own.

"I was no good at being in an orchestra because I wanted to burst into solo all the time," he said.

"When I first started taking cello lessons I wanted to have my own lesson, not be in a group of eight."

Jamie admitted he had always been a bit of a loner, which is just as well, otherwise he would not have acquired his great cello skills.

"I never liked playing with lots of other children - I wanted to play on my own or with just three or four other children," he said.

Jamie has won numerous awards, including the Sir John Barbirolli, Malcolm Arnold, Fleming, Suggia, Munster, Craxton, Martin Musical Scholarship, Dr Koch, Englefield and Anglo-Czech prizes, as well as winning the Eisteddford International Instrumentalist of the Year.

He performs on a 1765 Guadagnini cello and is supported by a syndicate headed by the Co-operative Bank.

Jamie has appeared at a number of major festivals such as Cheltenham, Harrogate, Machynlleth and Brighton, as well as performing regularly at Wigmore Hall and the Symphony Hall, in Birmingham, where he recently played the Elgar and Sullivan concertos with the English Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera.

Jamie will be playing at Worcester Cathedral when he comes to the Faithful City on Monday, August 19.

The concert has been organised by Huntingdon Hall, as part of The Three Choirs Golden Jubilee Fringe Festival 2002.

Jamie will be playing between 10.30pm and 11.45pm.

All tickets are £5 from Huntingdon Hall, CrownGate, Worcester, or on 01905 611427.