READERS may remember a review of a piano recital when two child pianists rescued a concert at Tuned In! Redcar.
The scheduled pianist had been taken ill the previous evening and was unable to perform.
As the starting time approached, the audience was rendered breathless by the unexpected appearance of two small boys – ten-year-old James, and Jeremy, eight – pupils of concert pianist Barbara White – who coolly walked to the grand piano which had been adapted for their size, and proceeded to play.
They confidently tackled works by Bach, Scarlatti, Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart and Villa-Lobos, all with style and aplomb. James even then was clearly considering the order of delivery of his programme, impressively pausing between pieces to assume a suitable state of mind in which to express the mood of the work. One sensed that here was a star in the making.
Since then he has studied at Chethams School of Music for nearly two years, and already has made a considerable reputation for himself by being first in the world to gain a distinction in his ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) diploma.
There is another opportunity to hear this young prodigy on April 23 in Stokesley Methodist Church at 7.30pm when, with Teesside Symphony Orchestra, he will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major.
Tickets are available online at teessidesymphonyorchestra.org.uk, but are disappearing fast.
Irene MacDonald
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