Ashleigh is a truly remarkable girl. She was born at 23 weeks and six days and spent her first six months in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. As a result, Ashleigh developed Retinopathy of Prematurity (RoP), which left her without any sight at all. Her general development was also delayed, and Ashleigh, now aged 13, attends a school for children with special needs. However, she is a young pianist with truly outstanding potential.
She has a wonderful musical ear, which enables her to play on the keyboard virtually anything that she hears and is very quick to learn new pieces. For the last year, Ashleigh has had piano tuition with Amber Trustee, Professor Adam Ockelford at the University of Roehampton. Adam specialises in working with blind children who have exceptional musical abilities and needs. Best of all, as Ashleigh’s playing has developed, she has blossomed as a young woman: her language and social skills have come on apace, and in the last 12 months she has entertained MPs and their guests at The House of Commons, featured on Radio 3’s In Tune programme with Sean Rafferty, recorded a segment for The One Show and performed in the Cadogan Hall at a charity event generously organised by The True and Fair Foundation.