Cellist Alex Rolton plays for his future

The gifted Alex Rolton has been loaned the 1730 cello for a fund-raising recital at the Hockliffe Street Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon and it is hoped supporters will rally to help the musician further his career.

Family friend Otto Polling, of Leighton Road, Edlesborough, is spearheading the drive to raise funds. He said: “Studying at the Royal Academy of Music Alex has so far been able to borrow a high class instrument but on finishing his studies he will no longer have a fine cello of his own to pursue his career.

“Through a legacy this beautiful cello has come onto the market but it is expensive and, as Alex is just starting out, he cannot get a bank loan for such a sum so he has launched a cello appeal looking for help towards raising the funds to secure a deal.

“I’m calling on all my friends and acquaintances to come and support this young musician’s cause.”

Alex was born into a musical family and played the cello from an early age. He studied at the RAM’s junior department where he studied cello with the famed conductor and cellist, Robert Max. As principal cellist of the academy’s opera and symphony orchestras, Alex recently premiered Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ opera Kommilitonen along with a highly acclaimed performance of Hindemith’s Kammermusik No 1 conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier.

The young star, who comes from Hemel Hempstead, is a cellist in the Artesian Quartet, who have performed at Leighton Theatre as part of the Leighton Music Club season, and will be at the Wigmore Hall in September. He’s also a former member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Alex’s programme will feature, among others, a Bach suite and a Beethoven sonata. Tickets, for a donation, on the door. The concert starts at 3pm.