A 13-year-old pianist who fled the war in Ukraine is performing at a concert in Dorchester to raise funds for an appeal.

Talented Kateryna Pyshniuk and her mother Anna fled Ukraine and live with a family in Bristol.

Before she left her home country she was a student at one of Ukraine’s top specialist music schools, studying piano.

In the UK she was given a full private school scholarship before being offered a spot at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, the UK’s oldest conservatoire.

The Dorchester concert will be performed at St Mary’s Church on Edward Road in Dorchester on Saturday, February 17 for the Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal and starts at 7.30pm. 

Kateryna, who has been described as an 'exceptional' pianist and whose story has made headlines in the UK, will be performing the concert on a Steinway piano at the church.

Dorset Echo:

Martin Ansell, the organiser of the event, spoke about how they secured Kateryna for the concert.

He said: “It was a stroke of luck, she’s very talented.

“The idea was to have a piano recital formed by local pianists in the area.

“One of the people we asked to help, Duncan Honeybourne, teaches at the Royal College of Music.

“He said he would ask her if she would be interested in performing at the concert as it is in aid of humanitarian relief."

Events have been held at the church in aid of Ukraine for the last two years, including a traditional carol performance by Ukrainian families in their national dress, which gave Mr Ansell the idea.

This is Mr Ansell’s first time in helping with the appeal.

He said: “The war has not stopped, and the fund is helping all the families, not only those in Ukraine.”

The full programme of the concert is not yet confirmed, however Kateryna will perform Winter Words by Benjamin Britten, music set to eight poems from Dorset born author Thomas Hardy. 

Peter Oakes will also be performing piano, whilst Colin Howard, Director of Music at the Dorchester Choral Society will be tenor.

Entry to the concert is free, with contributions to the Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal welcome.