Isabel loves being part of the choir, and remembers how, as a seven-year-old probationer, she would have running races up and down York Minster's enormous nave. "We had to be really quiet, otherwise the old choirmaster would get really cross with us. But it was great fun, you could skid along on your knees."

Perhaps more importantly, she has gained priceless performing experience with the choir, both as a member of the ensemble and as soloist in pieces such as Vaughan Williams' Mass in G Minor or Heathcote Statham's Magnificat in E minor ("that was my first solo in Evensong"). Even so, ever since this golden opportunity knocked, her life has been a bit of a blur, as she experienced her first taste of working in a top-flight professional recording studio and found herself rubbing shoulders with a variety of famous artists. She recorded her debut Decca album in a total of six days, with the sessions split into two batches, and then polished it off with a few additional bouts in the studio, such as the one in which she recorded a duet with Aled Jones on All Through the Night. But, mysteriously, it wasn't with today's Aled.

"I thought I'd be singing with him as an adult," Isabel explains, "but when we got to the studio I listened to the track and there was this boy singing it. I went ‘Whoa! He can sing high!' But it was Aled as a boy. He'd recorded a lot of material that couldn't be released because his voice broke after recording it, so I found myself singing along with one of those tracks."

Aled was about the same age as Isabel is now when he shot to fame as the boy treble who sang the haunting Walking in the Air, from the animated film The Snowman, so it's good news for Isabel that he's taking a big-brotherly interest in her budding career. She first met him when she accompanied him to a fund-raising concert for the London Welsh School, where Jones was performing alongside Cerys Matthews, Hayley Westenra and Karl Jenkins.

"He's going to be my mentor and co-manager," says Isabel. "He's very friendly and easy to get on with, and when he was singing he came across as a really nice person. Cerys did a duet with him, and it seemed like they were having lots of fun."

Isabel's album is an easy-to-love selection of pieces which span a variety of genres, playing to her familiar strengths in church choral music but also encompassing some shrewdly-chosen popular songs.

"There are some hymns," she points out. "There's The Day Thou Gavest and In The Bleak Midwinter. Then there's a new version of Einaudi's I Giorni, called For Tomorrow. It was originally a piano piece but we've added a vocal part for me to sing. I really like it, and I can play it on piano now as well."

On her version of Bright Eyes, the theme from the tear-jerking rabbit odyssey Watership Down which gave Art Garfunkel his best-known solo hit, Isabel sings the vocal to a guitar accompaniment, and she has taught herself how to play that as well.

Ironically, Isabel is a passionate animal-lover who can't get on with rabbits - "I had a rabbit but he bit me, and he gave me huge scratch marks on my wrist" – but she has been much more successful with the guitar.

"I've been teaching myself guitar since last year," she points out."I'd call it ‘songwriter guitar', and I have actually written some songs. We went on a school trip to France and there was a talent show. I did one of the songs I'd written, but my friends really bugged me by going round singing it. I was going ‘shhh! Stop singing it! It's terrible!'" (although good enough to win the talent show, as it turned out).

Amusingly, some of Isabel's friends have created their own rap song which was inspired by the problems they were having learning latin verbs, and Isabel now uses it as a handy crib-sheet for her own latin studies. This must have come in handy for the latin pieces on her album, such as Cesar Franck's Panis Angelicus, on which she duets with Britain's Got Talent's Liam McNally.

"That's my singing teacher's favourite one on the album! She loves the version I've sung. I've also recorded Pie Jesu by Faure. We do the Faure Requiem with the choir, though I haven't actually sung the solo part. The last time we sung it, our choirmaster couldn't decide who should be the soloist from the senior girls, so all of us sang it together."

Despite her hectic schedule and the barrage of new situations she keeps being confronted with, Isabel is doing a good job of keeping both feet on the ground. Strikingly self-possessed and confident, she doesn't hesitate to throw herself into new challenges, even extreme ones like the outward-bound week she spent in the Hebrides last summer and again this year, living on an uninhabited island with no electricity and surviving on boiled limpets and seaweed. "I Iove stuff like that!" she enthuses. "Maybe I'm a tomboy at heart."

All this may be because her somewhat unusual upbringing has taught her how to adapt to new and unexpected circumstances. She was born in London in 1998, but she was little more than a month old when she moved to Tuscany with her parents and three-year-old brother Jack. This was because her American father, James, is a celebrated wine critic whose job took him to Italy. Isabel harbours mixed emotions about the five years she spent in Italy.

"I can just about get by in Italian, but I was really stubborn about learning it. I was going ‘no! I'm not Italian so I won't speak it'. Now of course I wish I'd studied harder, because it's such a beautiful language and it's fantastic to sing in. And also because I didn't speak the language I didn't get to know the other children very well."

But it wasn't all bad. "I loved going out into the woods and getting mucky in the bramble bushes and stuff, and we had dogs and I always enjoyed walking them every day. We moved to Italy because of my dad's job, and of course the food's amazing – I do miss the food, because school lunch isn't exactly up to what I had in Italy. Lumpy rice pudding, urgh! In Italy the ice cream was amazing, and we had a brilliant pizza place nearby."

Her departure from Italy was brought about by an unfortunate chain of circumstances. Both her English grandparents fell ill and later died, and her parents separated, prompting Isabel's mother to move back to England with her two children. They settled in York, where it was Isabel's piano teacher who suggested she should try for a choral scholarship at the Minster, even though she'd had no singing experience. Astonishingly, she was successful. The scholarship not only started her off on what is shaping up as a highly promising musical career, but salvaged the family's tottering finances at a difficult time. Happily, too, despite her parents' separation, Isabel is still on good terms with both of them.

"My mum hasn't got remarried, and I see my dad loads! He came just a week ago, and we went to Leeds and went to Wagamama, which is my favourite."

Hymn book and cassock aside, Isabel is just a normal 12-year-old girl.

The security was quite intimidating when we arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the first rehearsal: there were so many people everywhere, and most of them in uniform! It was all a billion times busier than the last time I was there. I discovered that I was sharing a dressing room with three other (very glamorous) singers: Camilla Kerslake, Kerry Ellis and Hayley Westenra. This was really nice: they were all lovely and gave me so much confidence.

The rehearsal was quite scary, as there was a massive orchestra behind me and a brass band marching around in front of me...but luckily by the time I started singing they had left. The whole thing was a hugely emotional experience, first seeing the war widow talking on the big screen and then seeing the same lady walking towards me across the Royal Albert Hall. It was all rather overwhelming.

The next day I had to go first thing to BBC Breakfast (this was all over very quickly - I was only on air for about three minutes) and then jump in the car (still in my cassock and surplice!) to go to the Royal Albert Hall for the dress rehearsal. When we arrived I had about 10 minutes to warm up and then I was on stage. The second time round it wasn't so scary. I had to wait to rehearse the end (the part when the poppies drop) but as soon as that was over I went round the corner to a hotel room which the record company had rented for the day. We had something to eat and I had my make-up done for the afternoon performance (by this stage I had completely lost track of time!).

I went back to the Albert Hall to warm up ... I was so nervous!!! As I walked on stage, I relaxed a bit, I could see everyone, and somehow that calmed me down. Hearing the music playing, I took a deep breath and started singing. All my nerves went away, and as far as I knew I was alone just singing to myself. There was about a minute when the war widows entered when the orchestra was playing on its own. I had time then to take everything in, the sheer size of the hall, which I'd never properly appreciated, the widows, the audience... then I was singing again.

When I got back to the dressing room everyone gave me a huge hug and I had 20 minutes to chill out a bit before the final part with the hymns and poppy drop. Before I knew it I was back on stage again, standing between a soldier and a bishop. Seeing the poppies drop was a moment I'll never forget. It was completely quiet, just the small patter of petals falling on the ground. I was so lucky to be there.

Later in the afternoon I was invited to a private room to meet some of the war widows. They were so lovely and made me feel much better about singing at such a moving moment. I can't believe how brave they are - I was so glad I met them.

A few hours later and I had to do it all over again...this time in front of the Queen, the Prime Minister, and about eight million television viewers! This time the security was even more immense! There was a TV in our dressing room which showed what was happening in the hall. Every now and then the camera would show the Royal Family, or David Cameron, or Nick Clegg, or even Dame Vera Lynn!

When I walked onstage, I could see the Queen in her Royal Box - I had been practising my curtsies earlier with Camilla. I wasn't so nervous this time, thank goodness! When I started singing, it was the same as before: exciting, a bit scary, really amazing... but it was the last time. When I finished, I curtsied (I hope to the Her Majesty's approval!) and walked off, shaking with excitement! Wow....I'd just sung for the Queen!

Overall, it was such a great honour, I'm seriously hoping I'll be lucky enough to do it again next year - you never know!

08.11.2010

I spent my half term travelling all round the country on a whistle-stop tour. It was such fun, I got to do so many awesome things!

We went round in our van (which someone had filled with sweets and trashy foods - my mum wasn't too keen about that but I loved it!). I sang at radio stations, had interviews, went on "Lorraine" (!!) and visited Age UK centres so I could sing for all the elderly people - they really seemed to enjoy it. It was lovely to be able to do that, to put a smile on their faces. Everyone was so friendly, and I had fun signing the CDs we gave them.

In Cardiff I was really thrilled to be given a Welsh rugby shirt which I wore and wore until I spilt sauce on it (clever me!).

It was so busy, we seemed to be rushing from one end of the country to the other but I really enjoyed myself. I didn't get too much sleep but I was running on an adrenalin or sugar high most of the time and it was an amazing experience - I'm the luckiest girl in the world! I'm so excited about everything that's happening, I can't wait for the next thing!

On the last day, I went to Classic FM to record what they called "idents" (I had to say what my name was and that I am supporting their charity, which I'm really pleased to be doing) and then for half an hour I took over their Facebook page. It was really good fun. I thought perhaps there wouldn't be anybody online asking questions (so my mum would have to make some up!) but there were lots of people and they asked some really good questions. Everyone is so nice at Classic FM: they let me play the piano in their reception and even gave me a toy dog to take home!

11.10.2010

Last Thursday I went down to London to rehearse for Classic FM Live that night in the Royal Albert Hall. When we arrived at Kings Cross, I was very hungry so we bought some M&S food. I don't think that the cab driver was very impressed by my skilful technique of eating Cheesy Wotsits and not spilling crumbs on his seat. Oops.

We dropped off our bags at the hotel, ate lunch, then got in the car to the RAH. Arriving at the stage door, we got these cool Classic FM tag things (I still haven't managed to take mine off...it's even survived giving my dog a bath!) and were taken through to my dressing room. It was MASSIVE!! I almost died when I saw it! I was asked to provide a 'dressing room rider' which is a list of things I might like in my dressing room.....someone suggested I should add jelly babies, and I was pleased to see a giant box of them (they later became a communal snack) as well as two bottles of Appletiser. Yummy :) I was told that I wasn't needed for rehearsal until 4, but before I had a small filmed interview for the Classic FM website, and an interview for the Classic FM Magazine. I really enjoyed the interviews but before I knew it I was practising with an amazing orchestra and the brilliant Vasily Petrenko! The rehearsal went really well, but it tired me out, so I went and dozed in my dressing room on the sofa. I was soon woken up and went to attempt to get some tea, but believe me this was easier said then done as they'd ran out of food!

Lukas (a friend of my mum's) arrived at about 6:30, and did my hair and make-up B.E.A.utifully! I was quite nervous before I went on, and embarrassingly started yawning uncontrollably....I was really worried that I would do a massive yawn half way through a song!! Luckily I didn't but I was actually shaking when I walked on. Good thing the lights were so bright that all I could see was a black mass and a No Smoking sign. When I started singing, the nerves went away slightly, but I was still quivering a bit. At the end of my final song, a huge round of applause almost made my eardrums explode (the orchestra were clapping too-double yay!) and Vasily Petrenko kissed my hand....There's a great photo on the Classic FM website of that moment. Walking off, a huge tidal wave of relief swept over me and I went back down to my dressing room. My dad came down to see me afterwards, and I gave him his birthday present (a particularly awesome magenta skinny tie). As I was so knackered, I decided to go back to the hotel and sleep.

The next day we travelled to Liverpool to do it all over again! I had so much fun, and thank you to everyone who attended and who made this possible. Yay :D

24.09.2010

This summer I went back to Rua Fiola....a small island in the Hebrides. I went for a week, and had so much fun! During the week you do four activities - rock climbing (up a cliff), absailing (down a cliff), fishing and lobster potting and sea kayaking. These all lead up to survival, which is when you choose a little group of friends, and you all go off and survive with absolutely nothing ie no food, no tent - no mobile phone! - on an uninhabited island.

I stayed in a cave and ate limpets with three friends....RAVE. There are also mud pits (in which I went head under), a mahoosive zip wire off the top of a cliff (on which a friend and I went down 5 times), great food, really nice people (especially from Twyford!) - I would recommend everyone try this experience at least once! Last week was ..... uh-maz-ing.....! It was my first experience of TV and media, where I performed at a showcase and did some interviews. I travelled down to London on the Sunday, but everything started on the Monday morning. We got up VERY early in the morning and had breakfast in our room. I had my own hair & make up lady who came to my hotel room, which was fab! A scary looking black people carrier turned up at our hotel with Aled Jones and Kathryn (one of my managers) in, and it took us to the London Eye.

When we got there, I changed into my cassock and surplice (and got odd looks from tourists) and made my way over to the Eye. I met all the media and people from the record company and we looped the Eye twice - first was with press and second was with TV. People started taking pictures of us while people from other pods stared at us and waved... so embarrassing :/ The second trip round was worse as there was a whole camera crew, so the people were literally pressing their faces up against the glass staring at us!! It was sort of scary...I'd never been on the London Eye before.

Soon enough we were finished and I was whisked away to a rehearsal for my showcase the next day....which came VERY quickly.... We had to wake up reeeally early for my interview with Sky News, but luckily we got there in pretty good time! I managed to eat some toast and tea when I was there, and I got my make-up done quickly (it looked lurrrvely!).

Waiting in the Green Room, I met some really nice people who were going on before me. It was kinda weird seeing them in person and then on TV! Aled arrived just before, and I changed once again into my cassock and surplice - my mum was terrified that I was going to spill tea on it. I was a bit nervous, but everything went really well, I was trying to figure out for ages where the cameras were! I was sleepy by the end, so we went back to the hotel and slept for about 2 hours.... Surprisingly we didn't oversleep, and I was up and ready to go to the rehearsal on time.

When we arrived, I was surprised to see a banner with "The Choirgirl Isabel" written on it, and my picture! I was told everything was going to transform by the evening.... The first thing was a small video interview with Aled, and then an interview with the Daily Mail. It was goood! The rehearsing went quickly, and before I knew it, everyone was coming for my showcase! Performing was great, it went SO well and I really, really enjoyed myself! Afterwards everything was rushed because I had to catch a train, but I met some really nice people who all seemed to like it - I hope so! Can't wait to go on tour with Aled and to see my album in the shops - whoooah!