YOUNG West Somerset violin virtuoso Anthony Knight has completed the Italian leg of a European fund-raising tour for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Anthony, aged 17, from Minehead, will continue his ‘UNICEF Grand Tour’ when he visits some of the Baltic states next month.
Video shows Anthony Knight performing the Moderato from Telemann's Fantasia no 12 in the lobby bar of Albergo Cavalletto e Doge Orseolo, San Marco, one of the oldest hotels in Venice, dating from 1308.
The Taunton School pupil is booked to perform in the Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga, on December 11, and Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius, on December 14.
He has so far raised more than £12,000 for UNICEF, the largest international charity helping children in conflict zones, and has now raised his target to £20,000.
Anthony started a year ago performing violin recitals in churches and care homes in West Somerset and further afield, with the first one in Wootton Courtenay, in October, 2022.
He then embarked on a tour of major European cities during the summer, including Brussels, Frankfurt, Bern, Milan, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, and Cologne, and has given more than 60 performances.
In recognition of his charity work, Anthony was given an opportunity to perform with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, on the Awards for Young Musicians awards day, at its Maida Vale Studios, along with several other young award winners.
Anthony was chosen as the leader of the second violins, and was positioned just in front of the conductor, Andrew Gourlay.
After a day of rehearsals and a workshop, the youngsters and the orchestra put on a concert of Smetana’s Vltava and Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel Overture, at the end of which Mr Gourlay personally congratulated Anthony.
Anybody who wants to support Anthony's fund-raising initiative can find his online appeal here.