A BOY from Taunton School has been crowned a winner in the Pride of Somerset Youth Awards.
17-year-old Anthony Knight was one of 10 young people who had their efforts recognised at the award ceremony last week (Thursday, May 11).
Not only that, but Anthony was given the Sandy Padgett Award, which is dedicated to those who have helped the community in an extraordinary way. Somerset commander for Avon and Somerset Police, Dickon Turner, presented the award.
Anthony, a talented musician, was rewarded for his work in raising money for charities working in Ukraine. Since July of last year, Anthony has performed violin recitals at 42 churches across Somerset, raising more than £8,500.
This money has gone towards the Ukraine Appeal, which is run by the UK's Disasters and Emergencies Committee.
Speaking at the time of the awards, Anthony said: “My mum is Lithuanian and I have Ukrainian friends, I’m very sympathetic towards them.”
This isn't the end of Anthony's fundraising endeavours. Along with his family, he plans to continue fundraising over his summer break as he heads to Europe to perform recitals in nine cities across six different countries in just 15 days. Anthony will perform for free in a number of different hotel lobbies in Brussels, Frankfurt, Bern, Milan, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Berlin and Cologne.
Philip Edwards, Anthony’s housemaster at Taunton School, said, “Anthony is an exceptional young man. He is using his enormous talent to support those who need help.
"I was delighted to hear that his generosity has been recognised and I hope that his story inspires other young people to make a positive difference also. We are all very proud of him, and wish him luck in his next fundraising adventure around Europe!”
On top of all of this, Anthony is the current Taunton Young Musician of the Year and a recent winner of the Taunton School Concerto Competition, leading to performances of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and Vivaldi Winter from The Four Seasons with professional orchestras.
In February 2023, Anthony was awarded a top regional accolade by the high sheriff of Somerset, Jennifer Duke.
To help Anthony raise funds for UNICEF, please click his Go Fund Me link below – https://gofund.me/bbbd56be.
For more information about Taunton School, please visit their website.
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