Year 11 Ukrainian pupil stuns Priory with her musical talent

Talented Zlata stunned the whole school into silence in assembly with a perfect piano recital. 

Zlata is a high-attaining musician and has secured a place at the coveted Royal Northern College of Music every Saturday morning. 

What makes Zlata’s story even more amazing is that she had to flee her home country of Ukraine due to the conflict and build a whole new life in England with her mum and sisters. 

“It was very hard,” said Zlata. “My dad is still in Ukraine and he works in a dangerous place at a railway station so it is worrying. 

“I had to leave all my friends and come here and adapt to a new way of life. 

“Playing piano is something I have done since I was four-years-old so to be able to continue doing it has given me some normality, it’s what I enjoy. 

“I played in Ukraine at school and music events as well as charity concerts and I have always enjoyed it. 

“I came to Priory and played a Ukraine piece in assembly and I think everyone was shocked. People who don’t really know me know me as the ‘piano girl.’ 

“I am doing my GCSEs this year and obviously I don’t know what will happen although I am desperate to return to Ukraine and see my family and friends again. 

“I have got a place at Newman College where I will study A-Level Music and I sent some videos to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and they asked me to come every Saturday morning. I play the piano and viola there. 

“I would like to perform at big theatres in the future.”