PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS//
Harry Kneeshaw which has an orchestral accompaniment
but some solo sections.
An invitation to play with a prestigious
orchestra in one of London’s choice
venues is the dream of most musicians
– and one Lower Sixth Former Harry
Kneeshaw has already achieved. He said: “It was an absolutely amazing
experience to perform with such fabulous
musicians for such a good cause. I feel
honoured to have been asked to play;
it’s a wonderful opportunity which I did
not expect to get.’
Harry, a violinist, was asked to perform
with the London Junior Royal Academy
of Music at the Coram charity’s Handel
Birthday Concert at St Andrew’s
Church, Holborn.
The invitation came shortly after Harry
joined the Junior Royal Academy of
Music last September, and he travelled to
London on Monday evening to perform in
the same concert as leading international
soprano Rebecca Evans and virtuoso
trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins.
Harry performed Vivaldi’s La Tempesta
di Mare violin concerto in E flat Major,
The Vivaldi piece was new to Harry,
and he says he had to “practise hard to
get the piece fluent.” But he added: “It’s
been an exciting challenge to learn a
different style of music.”
Harry, who hopes to be a professional
violinist, said he felt “excitedly nervous”
before taking the stage in front of the
paying audience at the Grade I listed
venue. But he added: “Once I start
playing I relax, the nerves fall away and
I just enjoy the performance.”
Coram is a children’s charity committed
to improving the lives of the most
vulnerable children and young people.
Its founder, philanthropist Thomas
Coram, was born 350 years ago and
shared his birthday with Handel, who
was one of the charity’s early patrons.
The coincidence inspired the name of
the charity’s fundraising concert.
Harry was accompanied by an orchestra
brought together from the Junior Royal
Academy of Music and professional
baroque ensemble Sounds Baroque.
The Choristers of the Temple Church
also performed in the programme.
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
25