Ever wondered what happens to the winners of Rotary youth competitions?
In the case of talented Welsh musician, Ellis Thomas, he is preparing for his first full recital this week.
Ellis won last year’s Rotary Young Musician competition. The South Wales Guardian reports that Ellis, who is a pianist, has been attending the junior Royal Northern College of Music.
Following his piano concerto at the Rhyl Music Club’s Christmas concert in December, Ellis, from Llandudno, will hold his first full recital at Rhyl Town Hall on January 23rd as part of the International Concert Series.
Ellis Thomas
Harpenden
In Hertfordshire, the Enjoy Harpenden website reported about the fortunes of local girl, Lottie Aspey, who is flying to Malaysia to volunteer as an English teacher, thanks to a Rotary grant.
Lottie, 19, has deferred going to Durham University to study biology to fly to Asia as part of an experience arranged by the educational charity, Project Trust.
She raised £5,500 through a school concert and a themed dinner, plus money donated by charitable trusts. Rotary Harpenden donated £500 which was doubled with a Rotary district matching grant.
Lottie told the website: “I’ve been willing to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself, and that’s what my eights months in Malaysia will mean.”
Lottie Aspey
Padstow
Rotary Padstow has donated £2,000 each for three Cornish charities, following the success of its Music in the Park event held at Prideaux Place last summer.
The Cornwall Advertiser reported that cheques were presented to three of the four nominated charities at the Basement Café in Padstow.
A cheque for £2,000 was donated to Children’s Hospice Southwest, Cornwall Hospice Care and Cornwall Air Ambulance. Previously at the concert, the NSPCC was presented with a similar sum.
This year’s Music in the Park will take place on Friday, June 28th June, with acapella singers, Johnny Cowling and a Queen tribute band.
Harwich and Dovercourt
Meanwhile in Essex, Rotary Harwich and Dovercourt has pledged £10,000 to the victims of brain injury over the next four years.
The Harwich & Manningtree Standard reported that the Rotary club has recently handed over a cheque for £2,000 to Headway Essex.
Norman Cory, from the club, told the newspaper: “We have been considering financial support for the worthy charity over a five-year period and, having arranged for a representatives of Headway Essex to speak to our members at a recent meeting, we were impressed with the excellent work they carry out.”
