Czech pianist Adam Skoumal was commissioned earlier this year to write two duets for young piano students.
At previous presentations during Mr Skoumal's North-east tour, the second part has been played by Ernie Scott, his tour manager and agent.
Concert organiser Peter Sotheran turned to Redcar piano teacher Ian Sidgwick, who suggested one of his pupils.
And that's how 11-year-old St Benedict's School pupil Ellen Haramalis came to share the concert platform with one of the world's most accomplished pianists.
Ellen, pictured above with Adam Skoumal, who has reached grade three in her piano studies, usually practises on an electronic keyboard at home. It was only the second time she had played on a full size Steinway grand piano.
The two musicians had only a brief rehearsal before playing in front of a 60-strong audience at the latest Classics at Kirkleatham concert.
But Ellen needn't have worried. Her performance was greeted with prolonged applause and, at the end, Mr Skoumal - who has played with national orchestras worldwide and recently played for Russian president Vladimir Putin - called her back for an extra bow.
He said: "Ellen has made an excellent start to her music studies. She played with great confidence even though this was the very first time she had played in front of a paying audience.
"Having a pupil join me at the piano was the best way to demonstrate the young person's piece to an audience."?
Ellen, pictured with her mum, first showed an interest in piano four years ago when, after church, she started playing Mozart's Ode to Joy on brother Harry's keyboard at home.
Mum Fidelma said: "She'd remembered it from the morning and just started playing it. That's when I realised I should see about her taking piano lessons!"?
Fidelma says Ellen was "unbelievably laid back"? about the 11th hour call to play.
She said: "I couldn't believe how calm she was about the whole thing. She'd never met him or seen the music before, and they only had one afternoon practice session. She didn't even tell her teachers or friends."?
Sadly, because of the late notice, Fidelma was already with family in Leicester watching a very different type of music. She explained: "I was at the Blitz Glitz and 70s Hits show with the Rubettes, Sweet and Showaddywaddy!
"I'm with Ellen every day of her life yet, on my first time away, this happens. You couldn't make it up.
"But I can't describe how proud I am of her."?
Classical concerts are held at Kirkleatham every six weeks. The next, on June 3, features Dmitry Rachmanov , formerly of Russia, now Professor of Keyboard Studies at Chicago University's school of music in America.
