PIANIST, 8, TAKES 5 CURTAIN CALLS

FOLKESTONE, England — Pianist Frederick Kempf, 8, received a standing ovation and took five curtain calls after his debut as the youngest soloist ever to play with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

He gave a performance of the first movement of a Mozart concerto before a sellout crowd in his hometown of Folkestone on England’s southeastern coast.

The young musician, who wore a black tie and white ruffled shirt to the Sunday concert, said he wasn’t nervous.

“I feel quite special,” he said. “I do enjoy the attention. I am not excited, although I have been looking forward to today’s concert.”

Conductor Arthur Davison said, “I would say he has got a tremendous world of music in front of him. If he works very hard and justifies his remarkable talent, he will go very far indeed.”