GIVING a musical performance is usually cause for a certain amount of nerves but Fiona Cullen says she is not fazed even though she'll be playing for the Queen next week.

Fiona, who appropriately lives in Windsor Road, in Lawn, is set to tickle the ivories when the Queen visits Brunel University a week on Friday.

But, while most musicians would be trembling at the thought of playing in front of the country's monarch, Fiona is instead looking forward to finding out what kind of music the Queen is a fan of.

"The Queen is coming to visit Brunel University and the local community and the arts department was asked if they could organise some music to be played while she is eating her dinner," said the 20-year-old.

"So my duet partner Hannah Ahm and I were chosen to perform by the department and we will be playing for an hour and a half.

"We will be playing lots of duets, but we haven't really much time to prepare because we were only told about a month ago.

"I expect we will play tangos, some jazzy numbers and a couple of traditional pieces such as March Of The Militaire and Country Gardens.

"I'm a little nervous, but it's more excitement than panic. It will be really interesting to see what kind of music she is interested in she may even request something."

Fiona, a former student of St Joseph's School and a regular at the Swindon Music Festival over the years, has been playing the piano since she was seven and has achieved a diploma in the instrument.

And she admitted she is getting plenty of constructive criticism from her siblings Faye, 17, Jayne, 15, and James, 13, as all of them play the piano themselves.

"We are all pianists and violinists and I think my brother and sisters are all proud of me," Fiona said.

"But I'm sure they'll tell me if I'm making mistakes during practice!"

Fiona, who is in the first year of a multimedia, technology and design degree at the Middlesex university, has scaled so far up the piano-playing ladder, she is a qualified piano teacher and has regularly held piano lessons for other students.

But, for the time being at least, she is not intending to make a career out of her outstanding talent.

"I play the piano purely for enjoyment," she said. "I do a bit of teaching at university and in Swindon, but I will wait and see what happens."