Young musician Jonathan strikes the right note

TALENTED pianist and violinist Jonathan Darling shone on stage at both the Ilkley and Skipton Music Festivals.

The 12-year-old Ripon Grammar School student was placed third in his class at each event and invited to perform one of his pieces at the Skipton festival’s closing concert - an honour reserved for selected performers.

Since joining RGS last September, Jonathan has balanced a demanding schedule of music, sport and academic study.

He began learning piano at the age of six, shortly before the COVID pandemic, and has continued to develop rapidly as a young musician.

After starting Grade 8 piano lessons last September, alongside violin lessons as a complete beginner, he made exceptional progress in a very short period.

He achieved a high merit in grade 8 piano with an impressive score of 126 out of 150, while also gaining a pass in grade 2 violin — only three marks short of a merit — despite it being his very first face-to-face practical assessment on the instrument.

His demanding weekly routine involves waking at 4.15am every Saturday to attend swimming training before travelling to Leeds for Chinese lessons in the afternoon. He is also preparing to take Chinese at GCSE in Year 8.

To attend his weekly 45-minute piano lesson in Ilkley, Jonathan and his family undertake a two-hour round trip every Friday after school - a reflection of the dedication supporting his musical development.

And he’s regularly also involved in community recitals at a local care home, where residents have enjoyed his performances.