King of the keys at the age of 11

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Jo Francisco
Yorkshire Evening Post
Tuesday 17 June 2008 10:31

HE'S just 11 years old, but this musical prodigy already has letters after his name.

Yuanfan Yang sailed through a piano exam usually sat by degree students – the piano performer diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music to earn himself the letters , Dip.ABRSM.

The Cookridge Primary pupil, who was only eight when he passed Grade 8 with distinction, said: "I feel quite pleased with myself, it's quite a big achievement for me."

And when he grows up, Yuanfan, of Tinshill, said: "I want to be a great pianist and composer."

He has appeared at Leeds International Piano Competition, performed his own composition at Chinese New Year celebrations at Leeds Town Hall and appeared on children's channel CBeebies as Yuanfan the piano man.

Wanda Thorpe, heads of arts at Cookridge, said: "Yuanfan is the type of child you come across once in your lifetime. He's an amazing pianist."

Headteacher Stuart Tomlinson said: "We're very proud and delighted. Our only concern is whether there is enough space on his exercise books for the Dip.ABRSM after his name."

Yuanfan will now go on to Chetham's School in Manchester, the largest specialist music school in the UK.

But he is not the only musical success story at Cookridge. The school is the only primary in Leeds to get the Platinum Award from Music Manifesto, a national campaign to promote interest in music, and one of only 16 in the country.

Every class has singing lessons and all the children come together to form one choir – accompanied by Yuanfan.


Source:
Francisco, Jo. 'King of the keys at the age of 11'. Yorkshire Evening Post. 17 June 2008. URL: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/video_leeds_11_year_old_piano_king_1_2184545. [Accessed on Friday 22 April 2011]



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