The Piano's Brad Kella interrupted on stage as he has Liverpool crowd in tears

Brad Kella’s first Liverpool show was interrupted by an audience member in an emotional night at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Six months ago, Brad first appeared on our TV screens in The Piano as the Channel 4 show headed to Lime Street Station for its quest to find the nation’s next star pianist.

The 23 year-old from Bootle word viewers of the second season with his original piece New Beginnings and not just because it was a moving piece of classical music. The title referred to Brad himself, who grew up in the care system and admitted he and his brother Aron would roam the streets “causing mayhem”.

It all changed when Eve and Frank Kilmartin entered their lives, becoming their foster parents and helping him buy his first piano. Brad fell in love with classical music from then on and his tireless work resulted in him being crowned the winner of the series.

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Last night saw him come home to an adoring crowd at the famous Hope Street venue and the pianist couldn’t stop smiling that he had “sold out the gaff”. When he entered the stage, Brad, who now lives in Fazakerley, said: “It doesn’t make sense that I’m here. With everything that’s happened in the last few months, I can’t believe it.”

His humility was interrupted by a woman in the crowd, who shouted “you deserve it Brad!” This drew a large round of applause from the audience.

Brad was still keen to recognise the people who had helped him in his journey, from fellow pianist Lang Lang who he described as “boss” to the man who filmed him performing on the public pianos in Liverpool ONE, the video of which made The Piano’s producers aware of who Brad was. Before every song, Brad took us through the story behind it.

His newly released single Home To Me was inspired by Frank taking him to Anfield to see Liverpool FC play for the first time. It was at this moment when Brad felt truly comfortable with his foster parents.

Meanwhile Levels, which he had never performed publicly before, was about showing children who have a difficult upbringing that anything is possible. Brad’s music takes you to another place and fills you with feeling as the pace of the music rises to a crescendo. It was accompanied by a small orchestra which took it up another level.

The emotion of the song was matched by Brad’s words. At various points, the musician welled up and had to pause for breath as he recounted the difficulties he had faced throughout his life.

Many of the audience were in tears too as Brad admitted that without Eve and Frank he might have been separated from his twin brother and been out on a different path. Introducing the song named after them, he said: “This is the most special piece of music I’ve written. I wouldn’t be here without Eve and Frank. This city, this whole country, needs more foster parents.”

Another piece named Shelter was dedicated to those going through Christmas this year without a family. It wasn’t just Brad’s story that moved the crowd either.

Before he came on, there was a performance from Daria Golovchenko. She was forced to leave her home in Kherson in April 2022 with her daughter, who was two years old at the time, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She made the final of The Piano with Brad, with her incredible classical music drawing on the pain of conflict.

When Brad finished, he received a standing ovation as Scousers showed their appreciation for a heartwarming tale of talent and compassion triumphing over adversity. He admitted to the audience that while most kids in his school wanted to be the next Steven Gerrard, he wanted to be the next Beethoven. It’s a big ambition, but this performance showed Brad is likely to be a master of his craft for many years to come.