Violinist takes a bow after busking around the world

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Concert violinist David Juritz has performed in many of the world's greatest halls as a soloist, guest artist and concertmaster of London's famed Mozart Players.

But he may have found his true calling while "scraping away" in near anonymity outside some of the same venues.

The violinist left his London home on June 9 and has since traveled the globe as a street performer, raising money to fund music education for some of the world's poorest children.

During a stop in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, with only a few days left before his tour ends, Juritz said he had raised at least $50,000, after expenses, for the charity Musequality, which he hopes will grow into a fund of $500,000.

"It's difficult to turn publicity and goodwill into cash," said Juritz, who has worked from 6 a.m. until midnight almost daily over the past 4-1/2 months but insists it was worth it.

"People aren't really that interested in the easy things in life," he said, explaining why he had not just set out to raise the money via a sponsored series of concerts.

Juritz came up with the plan early this year as he decided to mark his looming 50th birthday by raising funds for charity by performing Bach's solo violin works. This reminded the South African-born musician of playing in the streets when he was a student at London's Royal College of Music.

"I remembered saying to somebody, 'I bet you could busk your way around the world if you put your mind to it.' That's all it took, only about a minute's thought. If I'd given it four or five, I'd never have done it."