Schoolboy, 11, to play with North Devon Sinfonia

River is an 11-year-old schoolboy from Devon who has shown remarkable talent in playing the piano. He attends West Buckland School in Barnstaple and has been playing the piano since he was six years old. His interest in music began when his grandmother noticed him humming and singing along to movie soundtracks. Encouraged by her, River started piano lessons and quickly advanced in his skills. Soon, he will have the opportunity to perform with the North Devon Sinfonia, a well-known local orchestra, in a special concert scheduled for late June. River will be playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 at St Michael and All Angels Church in Torrington. When asked about his approach to music, River explained that he imagines stories and pictures in his mind while playing. For example, he describes Rachmaninoff's music as a grand adventure story where characters face difficult choices and sacrifices. River's music teacher, Dom Carter, who has been teaching piano for 16 years, described River's talent as extraordinary. He said that River is working on advanced pieces usually played by much older students and that his focus and passion for music are impressive. River's mother, Laura, shared that neither she nor her husband have musical backgrounds, so River's talent was a wonderful surprise for the family. She expressed how emotional and moving it is to hear River play, and how much they enjoy listening to him practice every day.