Bury-born musician Harri Kelly, 21, who performs as Harri Sun, reached the final of Channel 4's The Piano after impressing judges at his audition. The young star, who grew up in Bury before moving near Prestwich, found his band Where's Harri? while at college, where he studied British, Irish, and modern music.
From Michael Jackson to jazz
Harri grew up listening to Michael Jackson and Amy Winehouse until the age of 12, when his dad gave him his record collection, which sparked his love for jazz music. He now studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, having taken two years out to figure out his path.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News, Harri said: "I'd found a guitarist that I still work with now, he's still in the band. I just changed the whole dynamic over the years, finding better musicians and swapping people in and out. Right now we're a pretty consistent five-piece under my name, I write every piece. Just trying to get some gigs in freshers, local or anywhere."
Road to The Piano final
Before appearing on the show, Harri described himself as "self-taught" before attending lessons. He applied to audition for The Piano last year and was contacted in February for an interview. He recalled: "So I applied late last year and then they reached out in about February saying they'd love to meet me and have an interview. I got on really well with the producer George. Me and him had quite a good relationship quite early on, we were bouncing off each other really well."
After winning his episode, Harri said he felt "ecstatic": "It was a feeling I can't really explain. It was everything that I'd been waiting for, taking two years out, building this band had all been validated by two really inspirational heroes of mine. That's Hiromi and Mika. When they announced that I won the episode, I was going to the final, it was just unbelievable."
Grace Matthews, a 19-year-old pianist, won the 2026 season with her performance at Birmingham's Symphony Hall, earning a standing ovation from the 2,000-strong crowd. Harri said Grace had become a close friend during the series: "I find London being overwhelming, so having a friendly face there that was around my age and same sense of humour, it was just a massive relief."
What's next for Harri
Now that The Piano has concluded, Harri is focusing on his music career. He said: "I'd really love to be a live artist, releasing music consistently. I've got three more songs that are coming out this year before an album releasing in the new year."
He added: "I'd really like to gig around the UK and create a fan base for the music and being played on the radio. I'd love to be on the Jools Holland show. I'd also love to play support for some major artists and maybe a headline show, a festival."
On the music industry's challenges, he shared: "There's so many musicians I know that have quit music to take on a catering job full time because it pays triple, and it's sad to see and it shouldn't be the case." When asked about possibly supporting or headlining a gig in Manchester, he added: "Fingers crossed!"
