A GRAND summer tour of European cities by Minehead violinist student Anthony Knight has been extended into the autumn and winter.

Anthony, aged 17, has already raised more than £12,000 with his summer performances for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which is helping victims of the war in Ukraine.

He has given performances in Brussels, Frankfurt, Bern, Milan, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, and Cologne.

Now, Anthony, who is studying A-level music at Taunton School and leads the school’s symphony orchestra and a string quartet, is to continue through to December with several more appearances.

He is booked for October 25 to perform in the Albergo Cavalletto e Doge Orseolo, San Marco, one of the oldest hotels in Venice, dating to 1308.

Then, he has added a Baltic leg to his UNICEF grand tour with recitals in Riga and Vilnius from December 11 to 16.

Anthony Knight with Camille Fidele, of The Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera.
Anthony Knight with Camille Fidele, of The Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera. ( )

Anthony, who has been travelling with his parents Paul and Solveiga Knight, said: “What began as an idea, has turned into an amazing venture, full of memorable experiences, which I hope will inspire other students to use their talents for good.

“Any sponsorship is greatly appreciated.”

Among his summer recitals, Anthony performed twice in the lobby lounge of the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin, where he was greatly appreciated by the guests.

He also performed a recital in the lobby lounge of The Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera, where deputy director of sales Camille Fidele said: “The Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera team is grateful for the beautiful musical moment you have offered us.

“We wish Anthony a very successful future.”

Mr Knight said music ran in the family, with his ballroom dancer instructor wife Solveiga recently expanding her business with a new service for elderly and housebound residents in West Somerset to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes, called Strictly Seated Ballroom.

Solveiga is an experienced ballroom and Latin dance teacher from Lithuania and has developed a seated ballroom dance class suitable for everybody, including people with limited mobility or balance issues.

Mr Knight said: “She has had several years experience of running it successfully in local care homes and now she would like to take it out into the community.”

Anybody who wants to support Anthony’s fund-raising can find his GoFundMe page here.