A 16-year-old named Ashley walked onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage and set up a big xylophone. He told the judges that when he left school, he wanted to become a professional xylophone player, or at least a percussionist.
The judges could not resist a joke. One asked if the xylophone helped him get the girls, and another wanted to know if anyone had ever sold records playing it. Ashley calmly reminded them of Evelyn Glennie.
He had been playing for two years. He started at his percussion teacher’s house and later bought the instrument he brought on stage. Ashley lived on a farm with his mum and dad, and his family had been farmers for hundreds of years, but he wanted to break away and make music his career.
When the music started, Ashley played fast and full of energy, and the audience clapped along through the whole routine 🎶. David loved it and said he was like a one man xylophone version of One Direction. Alesha said she thought he would work better as part of a band.
Another judge said that at first it felt like a beer festival in Munich, then admitted he was a brilliant player. Simon said that under normal circumstances it would be his idea of a total nightmare, but he listens to what the audience likes. He changed his mind, agreed with David, and Ashley went through ❤️.
