Young Wendover musicians play for Christian Aid in their latest charity performance

Piano Recital flyer

Young Wendover pianists Jude Kayakiran and Thomas Harrington will play a classical recital in St Mary’s Church, Wendover, on Sunday afternoon to raise funds for Christian Aid in the latest in a series of charity concerts they have performed over the past year.

The pair, together with their siblings and other Bucks young musicians, raised several thousand pounds across two concerts in Wendover and at the Amersham Festival in aid of UNICEF’s work in Ukraine. In Sunday’s concert (26 November, 3.30 pm) they will be performing on behalf of Christian Aid, which has most recently been raising money for  its Middle East Crisis Appeal, following the devastating events that began last month.

The repertoire will include pieces by Rachmaninov, Poulenc, Beethoven, Shostakovich and Gershwin.

Jude and Thomas are accomplished musicians who have performed and competed across Buckinghamshire and beyond.

Jude, who is currently on his gap year before going to study History and Politics at university, was a finalist in the Bucks Young Musician competition earlier this year, and this week was runner up at the Toddington Young Musician of the Year competition. He is due to perform Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto early next year with the Chiltern Music Academy, which he led, as a violinist, at the Royal Albert Hall in the Music for Youth Proms earlier this month. He also plays in Bucks County Youth Orchestra and Aylesbury Symphony Orchestra.

Thomas, a sixth former at Aylesbury Grammar School, is studying Composition and Piano at the Royal Academy of Music on Saturdays. He is also an accomplished clarinettist and saxophonist, playing in both Bucks County Youth Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. He plays Jazz in big band and improvisation groups. He supports other young performers by accompanying them on the piano in auditions and competitions.
The Young Pianists for Christian Aid concert is on Sunday, November 26, at 3.30 pm. Entry free. Donations to Christian Aid.