A MINEHEAD teenager who is taking his music to venues across Europe recently performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Violinist Anthony Knight, aged 17, was chosen to perform at the Awards for Young Musicians (AYM) Awards Day at Maida Vale Studios along with a number of other award winners.

He was the leader of the second violins and was positioned just in front of the conductor.

At the end of a day of rehearsals and a workshop, Anthony and the other young people, together with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, put on a concert of Smetana's Vltava and Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel Overture.

READ MORE: Anthony Knight's concerts in European hotels.

His father Paul said: "At the end of the concert, Anthony was delighted when the conductor leant over and congratulated him personally."

Anthony, a student at Taunton School, is currently on a concert tour of hotels across Europe in an attempt to raise £20,000 for UNICEF, which helps children in conflict zones.

He is planning to visit 12 countries over the coming year.

He has already played in the lobby bar of Albergo Cavalletto e Doge Orseolo, San Marco, one of the oldest hotels in Venice, dating from 1308 and situated next to a gondola station.

Paul said: "Anthony is really looking forward to the Baltic leg of his sponsored UNICEF Grand Tour, from Monday, December 11, till Saturday, December 16.

"He's booked to perform in the Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga on Monday, December 11, and the Grand Hotel Kempinski, Vilnius, on Thursday, December 14."

Speaking to the BBC, Anthony said: "I decided to help raise money for (children in) disasters and warzones whilst I was entertaining people.

"I started off doing these recitals in churches and was trying to bring music to people after lockdown.

"I just want to help people."

He added: "It's brilliant watching people's expressions when I rock up in the hotel lobby.

"Guests stopped chatting in the hotels when I started playing and they were so generous."

Earlier this year, Anthony, who has also performed violin recitals in 42 Somerset churches, was a winner in the Pride of Somerset Youth Awards, where she also scooped the Sandy Padgett Award, which is dedicated to those who have helped the community in an extraordinary way.