By Julie Armstrong

Last updated 12:25, Friday, 18 April 2008

IT WAS a moment Kim Harris will never forget... she answered the phone to hear a former pupil’s mum shriek in excitement telling her to turn the TV on at once.

• Slideshow: View pictures of Andrew and with his teacher

Andrew Johnston meets up with his primary school teacher Kim Harris

On screen was Britain’s Got Talent star Andrew Johnston, 13, telling millions of GMTV viewers that it was Kim who first noticed him.

Mrs Harris, a music specialist, was Andrew’s first teacher at Stanwix School.

“I never thought he’d remember me,” said Mrs Harris, now a senior lecturer in primary music at the University of Cumbria.

When she first heard Andrew’s voice eight years ago she wasted no time in telling his mum Morag it was something special.

She said: “I used to teach a lot of subjects through singing. I noticed Andrew had a really good voice, really pure. I spoke to his mum and she asked me what she could do to give him an incentive. I suggested she went to the cathedral.”

Andrew, now head chorister at Carlisle Cathedral, took the nation by storm on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent at the weekend.

He timidly told judge Simon Cowell how he had been taunted by bullies for his classical singing.

Mrs Harris said he showed no hint of shyness at the age of five. “He loved it. It’s different being on stage in front of an audience like that – anyone would be nervous.

“But I could see as soon as he started to sing, he was lost in his own world – as all good performers do, going into their zone.”

Mrs Harris takes no credit for her discovery, but stresses the importance of covering the curriculum in its entirety.

She said: “It’s really nice to know that you’ve made a difference somewhere – that’s all any teacher wants. But I didn’t do anything really. I would say that if we go down the route of subjects being squeezed out of the curriculum in primary schools, because of emphasising literacy, numeracy, science and ICT, you risk not finding out where children’s strengths lie.”

Andrew, of Stanwix, won the junior championship trophy at this year’s Carlisle Music and Drama Festival.

On Saturday more than 10 million viewers watched as he made television’s Mr Nasty’s jaw drop with a tear-jerking performance of Pie Jesu.

It was the start of an amazing week for Andrew.

Whizzed away to London on Monday, he sat next to his proud mum on the famous GMTV breakfast sofa.

Back to school at Trinity on Tuesday, he found himself swamped with an army of fans on internet chat sites.

Comments on the website of The Cumberland News’ sister paper, the News & Star, show Andrew has even captured the hearts of people in Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Greece and the Netherlands.

Robynne Hartshorne, from Australia, said: “Andrew, I saw your singing on Australia TV this morning, and wow you are fantastic.

“I am so impressed with your comments about not hanging around the streets and wanting to make something of yourself. You are on your way and don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t do something. You can do anything you put your mind to.”

Fan Jim Mcguire added: “I’ve heard a lot of great music, but nothing has ever held my attention like this boy’s voice.

“I was the same as the judge who was mesmerised, because I couldn’t take my eyes off this boy; it was like the sound was so perfect. This is more then mere talent – it’s a gift. I would like to hear more from Andrew. He’s made choir music cool.”

Vlatko of Macedonia said: “Well done Andrew. You beat all the bullies with your voice.”

One fan said he should perform on the pitch at Brunton Park. He wrote: “This boy should sing before Carlisle’s final game – if that doesn’t lift the crowd and players nothing will.”

Carlisle’s final game of the season, if they don’t go into the play-offs, will be on Saturday May 3 at home against Bournemouth.

But fans in Carlisle will not have long to wait to hear Andrew perform again. Tomorrow he will be at the cathedral to record a CD with his fellow choir members.

They will sing a number of pieces written by Dr Frederick Wadely, the cathedral’s master of music from 1910 until 1960. The free recital begins at midday.