Rhys Wynne-Jones spent a decade without a home in England. Then one night he walked into St. Mary’s Church in Penzance, part of a movement of churches that keep their doors open around the clock, and asked if he could play the piano. A volunteer snapped a video of him performing Queen’s“Bohemian Rhapsody.”It went viral, and the world met The Nightchurch Pianist.
Two and a half years later, the turnaround is remarkable. Rhys has a home through Coastline Housing in west Cornwall, he’s recorded a TV pilot with Peter Andre, he’s met Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood at a charity gig, and he has performances booked, including a Bristol theatre production. His talent runs deep: he can recite every country in the world, the periodic table, and 100 digits of Pi.
But here’s the heart of it. Rhys says there’s a lot of noise in his head, and when he plays piano, it goes quiet. He also says he just loves playing to raise money for homeless charities and good causes. In 30 months, he’s raised over £40,000 (about $54,000) doing exactly that. What’s the one thing that quiets your mind when life gets loud?
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
