Snitterfield schoolboy performs his music for King Charles’s birthday
A SCHOOLBOY from Snitterfield has wowed the King with his musical talent.
Bill Goulding, 14, a pupil at Alcester Grammar School, was asked to compose and perform a piece of music for Charles’ 75th birthday celebrations.
Bill and his father Pete were invited to the King’s country home, Highgrove in Gloucestershire, where they mingled with TV’s Repair Shop host Jay Blades and celebrity chef Raymond Blanc.
The talented teenager, who’s been playing the piano since he was 10, dreams up his classical compositions while walking in the family’s garden and nearby fields. At Highgrove he played six of his own pieces, including a jaunty melody called The Highgrove Dance and a more poignant aria inspired by Armistice Day.
The honour came about after Bill, who’s also a keen gardener, visited Highgrove’s gardens with Pete and his mum Elizabeth.
Afterwards Bill, who is on the autistic spectrum, wrote to thank the King and tell him how much the beautiful surroundings had inspired him. The family were amazed when the royal office replied saying it would be ‘wonderful’ if Bill would consider composing and performing a piece for the monarch’s birthday event on Monday (13th November).
Bill, who was introduced to the King, told the Herald: “He was absolutely lovely, so talkative. We have similar interests because he really enjoys classical music, and he enjoys his gardening.”
The youngsters, whose favourites are Mozart, Chopin, Schubert and Beethoven, said his ambition is to be a composer.
He told how he felt “nervous but excited” before playing at the tea party and confessed he was still perfecting one piece right up until the last minute.
He explained: “I am a very bad procrastinator and with my Armistice aria I was even writing in the car on the way to Highgrove but I think it turned out OK, as the King said he liked it.”
Pete, who works in the music industry, said: “The King mentioned Bill’s fascination for gardening and joked he could ring up Bill if he ever forgets the names of any plants at Highgrove.”
The event also included community champions nominated by friends and family.
“His bedroom is now called his dressing room,” Pete said. “I’ve been joking we should start thinking about an album – maybe we could call it Now That’s What I Call Highgrove.”
