In 2011, Harry, from Eckington, Sheffield, also achieved an A* grade in GCSE music two years early.
The gifted young musician has two Grade 8 distinctions in piano and violin, a Grade 6 distinction in singing and is a member of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO).
He is the first Mount St Mary’s College pupil to be selected for the NYO and this year performed at the 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony in London. As one of just 46 violinists in the NYO, Harry has also performed at The Barbican and The Proms.
Harry said: “I am really happy to have passed the exam at 15 and to get an A grade is even better. It has been a great year so far, being picked for the NYO and performing at some amazing places. This tops it all off. As a music scholar at the Mount, I am lucky to have some great teachers who have been really supportive and helped me to develop my skills.”
Last year, Harry composed a programmatic piece for the college Jazz Band, which received a special award when it was performed at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham.
He has also taken part in a masterclass with internationally acclaimed musician Professor Ekaterina Murina, Chair of Piano at the St Petersburg Conservatoire, at Mount St Mary’s, and played solo piano in a performance of Rhapsody in Blue with the Mount St Mary’s College orchestra.
Lucy Kitchener, Director of Music at Mount St Mary’s College, said: “Harry is a very talented young musician and has shown great skill, determination and hard work to achieve this latest accolade.”
Harry’s two brothers are also musically gifted. Youngest brother, 11-year-old Sam Castle, is a member of the under 12 National Children’s Orchestra (NCO) and has recently been accepted as a junior member of the Royal Northern College of Music.
James Castle, 13, who is also part of the NCO, recently performed for the Queen in Westminster Hall at a special Royal Family lunch.
Mount St Mary’s College achieved its best A- level results for five years, going against national trends. A* – B grades are up on 2011, with 54% gaining the top grades and 75% of pupils achieved A* – C grades, both are the highest results in five years.
The school’s Physics department is celebrating after a 100% A grade pass rate and Mathematics was another high-achieving department with 50% of pupils gaining an A*- A.
The College has also seen the first cohort complete A-level Government and Politics (UK and USA) with A*- B – 53% and A*-C – 77%.
Overall the majority of the 57 A-level pupils secured their first or second university choice.
Laurence McKell, head master at Mount St Mary’s College, said: “This is a wonderful achievement for Harry and he should feel incredibly proud. Music plays an integral role in College life and he is an exceptional talent who is always taking part in extra-curricular musical activities.
“I am sure we will continue to see him lighting up stages here and further afield, he is definitely hitting the right notes!
“Although we are a non-selective school, our great A-level results once again demonstrate how we continue to achieve high standards and help pupils to fulfil their potential.
“I would like to pay tribute to our fantastic teaching staff. They continue to inspire and lead by example, helping our pupils to develop into well rounded young men and women who embody the Mount’s ethos of putting others first.”