Internationally renowned pianist Veronika Shoot will be performing at St Andrew's Church, Holt, on May 11, in one of the first concerts to be hosted by newly-formed community arts group StART.

North Norfolk News: Internationally renowned classical pianist Veronika Shoot, who will be performing at St Andrew's Church, Holt, as part of a series of concerts organised by newly-founded arts group StART.Picture: submittedInternationally renowned classical pianist Veronika Shoot, who will be performing at St Andrew's Church, Holt, as part of a series of concerts organised by newly-founded arts group StART.Picture: submitted (Image: Archant)

Moscow-born Ms Shoot, who performed her first recital to a sold-out audience at the age of seven, was hailed by Yehudi Menuhin as 'destined to become a great pianist' as a six-year-old.

After gaining a scholarship to the Yehudi Menuhin School, in Surrey, Ms Shoot, who moved to the UK aged five, studied at the Purcell School of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, and at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire.

North Norfolk News: Internationally renowned classical pianist Veronika Shoot, who will be performing at St Andrew's Church, Holt, as part of a series of concerts organised by newly-founded arts group StART.Picture: submittedInternationally renowned classical pianist Veronika Shoot, who will be performing at St Andrew's Church, Holt, as part of a series of concerts organised by newly-founded arts group StART.Picture: submitted (Image: Archant)

She has since built a reputation as one of the most sensitive, charismatic and versatile pianists performing today.

As well as performing for TV and radio, Ms Shoot has played on some of the most prestigious stages in classical music, including London's Wigmore Hall and Royal Festival Hall, the Rachmaninov Hall in Moscow, Amsterdam Conservatoire, the International Mozart Festival in Istanbul and as part of the L'Ope?ra Gabriel at the Cha?teau de Versailles, in France.

St Andrew's director of music Mark Jones said the new StART group aimed to continue the work begun by the now-defunct north Norfolk children's arts organisation Falcon.

'Out aims are very similar in that we are raising funds for the promotion of the arts in Holt,' he said. 'The concerts are free to everyone, but we asking audiences to make a donation at the end of the performance.'

A new idea - offering concert-goers a chance to meet the performer at an after-show supper - promised to bring added excitement, Mr Jones said.

Veronika Shoot will be performing music from her latest album, Journey Through Childhood, featuring works by composers including Dmitri Shostakovich, Robert Schumann and Claude Debussy, at St Andrew's Church, Holt, on May 11 at 6.30pm. Entry is free, with a collection after the concert in aid of StART projects.

A licensed bar will be open at 6pm and during the interval, with after-concert supper tickets (priced £15) available by emailing: chume.peacocks@gmail.com

For more information about StART concerts, visit www.start-holt.org.uk