A YOUNG man from the Czech Republic will swap the fruit fields of Angus for the concert stage at the Webster Theatre ‘for one night only’ next week after his remarkable musical talents were discovered during a chance visit to an Arbroath music shop.

Pavel Andoga, who is in his early 20s and is staying at the Woodley Caravan Park while he is working on a local farm, was strolling around Arbroath town centre on his day off when he happened to drop into Abbey Music in Kirk Square.

Proprietor Terry Wood said, “It was just an ordinary Saturday in the shop and I noticed this young lad, who was obviously one of the visiting workers from Eastern Europe, having a good look at the electric piano I have on display for people to try out.

“He didn’t speak a lot of English and was quite shy at first but when I offered to switch on the piano and let him have a go he accepted enthusiastically.

“What happened then was really quite amazing. He sat down and started to play a selection of classical music pieces and what I assume were Czech folk tunes and, before long, the shop was full of people who had come in off the street.

“It really was completely captivating, for me as well as for the impromptu audience, to hear this young lad playing the piano as well as I’ve heard many a trained concert pianist.

“It just seemed such a shame that someone so talented should have to be picking strawberries for a living so I decided to see if couldn’t help him out and give him a chance to take his music to a wider audience—and maybe make a wee bit of money into the bargain.”

Next stop for young Pavel was an audition with top Scottish comedian and impresario Ronnie Coburn, whose famous Breath of Scotland show is in the middle of its 47th run at the Webster Theatre, and after hearing him play, Ronnie immediately pulled out all the stops to put him on the bill for next Tuesday’s show.

Ronnie said, “When I heard about this young lad’s ability I just had to hear him for myself and, although I’ve heard an awful lot of very talented musicians during my many, many years in show business, when I heard him play I realised he was a wee bit special.

“I don’t really know much about him, other than that he is over here working for the summer on a farm, but I knew I had to get him into the show.

“All he really has with him is his working clothes and jeans and so on—which wouldn’t really be the done thing for appearing on stage—so we had a bit of a whip-round amongst the cast members to get him a decent white shirt and a pair of trousers and, from what I can gather, he is really looking forward to his moment in the spotlight in Arbroath.”

Pavel has been given a 15 minute spot during next Tuesday night show, taking to the stage immediately after the top-of-the-bill act, the John Ellis Highland Country Band, and Ronnie believes the audience will be as impressed as he has been.

He said, “I think it will be a nice memory for him to take back home with him in September and, as I get the impression he’s not from a particularly well-off background by our standards, we also hope to raise a few bob for the young lad.

“After the recent tragic death of one of the young Czech workers in Arbroath, I think this will be a nice way of showing foreign visitors are welcome here.”

* Tickets for the show are available from Abbey Music, Arbroath, 01241 879904 and the Fobel Shop, Carnoustie, 01241 853659.