A professor of juggling from Kiev introduced Neil Kelso to the world of magic and ventriloquism.

The 17-year-old, who lives at Badger Farm, Winchester, is the youngest member of the Winchester Magic Society and winner of the Ben Wright Award given in memory of the founder of Encore, the junior branch of the Winchester Amateur Operatic Society.

Neil, who is taking A levels at Peter Symonds' College, met the professor when he attended a Belgian circus school.

"My father worked in Brussels and I was a pupil at the British School," said Neil.

"When I was in Year 8, we all took part in a play. I was the entire chorus for a production of Cold Comfort Farm."

The teacher enjoyed juggling and suggested Neil learn from the professor.

"From there, I moved into magic tricks and ventriloquism."

The family moved to Winchester in 1999. They attended a show given by the Winchester Magic Society at the Guildhall and Neil decided he would audition.

"I had to give a 15-minute show with patter to demonstrate my skills and they accepted me."

Members share secrets and sources of new equipment as well as giving shows.

Neil, who joined Kings' School halfway through Year 9, is an accomplished pianist and studied music rather than drama at GSCE.

It wasn't until he went to Peter Symonds' that he had time to appear in full-scale productions.

"I saw the Encore performance of The Boy Friend and, the following year, I auditioned. I played one of the apprentices in Half a Sixpence and was cast as Koko this year."

It was Neil's idea to perform Tit Willow, the sad tale of the bird who dies of unrequited love, using "Hercules", his own ventriloquist bird doll.

"We knew it made the cast laugh at rehearsals but Debbie Sarfas, who played Katisha, and I were amazed by the audience reaction."

His other dummy, "Albert", is a ginger-haired little boy who comes from Manchester

"They are both rather shy and not yet ready to be interviewed or photographed," said Neil with a completely straight face.

Neil has never taken dancing or singing lessons.

"Playing the piano has given me an ear for music but otherwise I have just picked up the techniques in rehearsals."

His show-stopping performance as Koko in The Hot Mikado was just one of the reasons he was chosen for the Ben Wright Award.

"It was also for the amount of hard work and dedication he put into the production and the company as a whole," said Noel Jones, director of the show and daughter of Ben.

"When he wasn't rehearsing, we would find him helping with the set, sourcing props and even teaching the bass guitarist his part in the band!

"He was invaluable to me with the marketing, writing things for the company newsletter, helping with the programme and press releases etc. He really is a star on all fronts."

Neil's magical expertise was used by Ian Crowe in two shows he directed for WAOS.

"For HMS Pinafore, Neil showed Buttercup some simple tricks to fascinate the ship's captain and he made a glass completely disappear in the drinking scene in Me and My Girl," said Ian.

"He is a quiet, unassuming lad and so modest about his many talents."

Neil is planning to go to Bath University to take a degree combining business management, European languages and a year on work placement in France.

"I passed my French A level last summer so can concentrate on the maths, music and business studies."

He has thought about a career on stage but knows just how difficult it is to get started.

"It is a lovely hobby and rewarding in itself. I have had so much fun and made many good friends in this way. It will always be an ice breaker if I move somewhere new."

What he will not find is anyone to play cards with him - especially if money is involved.

He gave me a sealed pack to open and performed two baffling tricks inches from my eyes.

One involved a letter, which Neil had posted three days earlier, predicting which card I would pick from the pack.

After I made my choice, I opened the envelope and, of course, he was correct.