The 14-year-old will perform with the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle

Leia photo 4 c Zhutek

Leia Zhu

Teenage violinist Leia Zhu will perform Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo capriccioso at a free concert for BMW Classics in Trafalgar Square. The concert will be held on Sunday 15 August 2021 at 6.30pm and also be livestreamed on YouTube. 

Under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, the concert will feature the London Symphony Orchestra playing alongside 20 young musicians from the LSO East London Academy. The music performed will be on a theme of dance and ballet, including Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in addition to the first live performance of Ayanna Witter-Johnson’s DreamCity. 

Leia Zhu is a 14-year-old violinist who made her solo debut at the age of four. Since then, Leia has performed with eminent ensembles and orchestras across the globe in more than 16 countries to date.

Watch: When young violinist Leia Zhu met the great Ida Haendel

Watch: Leia Zhu plays Carmen Fantasie

Watch: 12-year-old violinist Leia Zhu plays Kodály with cellist Amit Peled 

Commenting today, Sir Simon Rattle said, “This year will be extra special. 2020’s concert was a casualty of the pandemic and we have shifted our date to August in the hope that social distancing guidelines will have eased some more so we can gather together as an orchestra and with a crowd and have a great musical summer party. I am delighted that the musicians from the LSO East London Academy are joining us on stage, along with the soaring talent that is Leia Zhu. These young people are the future and it is awe-inspiring to see their talent develop, and share their gifts with the crowd in Trafalgar Square and on YouTube.”