The daily bicycle rides to and from high school gave him a huge lung capacity. But the boy from Schinnen was so desperate to play, that he overcame this problem. This seldom happens because children can usually only start playing this instrument once they have permanent front teeth. 'For me it feels the same.' Romano has been playing the trumpet since he was six years old. He has a fair amount of experience in playing before a large audience: a few weeks ago he performed during one of the Rieu concerts on the Vrijthof in Maastricht. He agrees that it is indeed an honor, but remains surprisingly down-to-earth about it. And which young musician would not like to perform there as a soloist? This year the honor has been bestowed on the twelve-year-old trumpeter, Romano Diederen, from Schinnen who will be going solo next Saturday at the prestigious concert in the capital. The kids’ version of the “big” Prinsengracht is one of the highlights of the Canal Festival which is held in Amsterdam every year. Next week Romano Diederen from Schinnen will have the honor to take to the pontoon (floating stage) in Amsterdam at the annual Prinsengracht concert which, in a nutshell, consists of a mixture of classical and pop music. Twelve years old and soloist at the Children’s Prinsengracht concert. ('The Prinsengracht Classic' is an annual open air concert on a floating stage in the Amsterdam Canal 'Prinsengracht'). Twelve-Year-Old Romano solo on Prinsengracht CLASSIC.

JOAQUÍN SOROLLA by Roger Diederen