Katharine Wootton In this year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics, it is your perfect opportunity to whip out your Union Jacks and holler Land of Hope and Glory whilst smeared in a glow of true British patriotism. And with the York 800 celebrations still going strong throughout this year, that’s an even bigger incentive be proud of our green and pleasant land.
So, with the help of Brassed On York alongside the National Band Championship finalists, Shepherd Group Brass Band and the York Railway Institute Brass Band, York will showcase its very own Proms in the Garden this Monday 20th August on the very stage of the show that is currently drawing the nation’s attention to our city, York Mystery Plays. Starting from 7.30pm, the Museum Gardens will take a one-day break from the stunning spectacle of the Mysteries and will instead ring out with the sound of great British music.
The concert will open with an original composition from York St John University’s very own head of music, David Lancaster whose Sounds Of St Mary’s/Sumer Is Icumen In will feature a euphonium solo by Shepherd Group Brass Band member Mike Pratt.
David’s cornet duet setting of Bruce Jackson’s arrangement of Henry Purcell’s Trumpet Sonata, performed by Mark Durham and Sam Lovatt and his ambitious work bursting with a sense of York’s history and future, City of Kings, are among the highlights to be gracing the bumper first half of this huge event.
The opening half of the proms celebration will also see 18 year-old Jack Capstaff showcasing his musical composition, The Minster: a brass work that commemorates the installation of York Minster’s in 1832 and which is dedicated to the people of his home city of York.
From innovation to tradition, history to future, the second half of the evening will then turn into the classic ‘Last Night of the Proms’ style experience, allowing the audience to jig along to their hornpipe and blow off the rafters of the 1,500 capacity theatre with glorious renditions of the inimitable classic tunes that have shaped our nation.
Tickets for Proms in the Garden are on sale on 01904 623568 and yorktheatreroyal.co.uk with all proceeds going to the Lord Mayor of York’s charities, SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors and Airmens Families Association) and the York branch of the Special Olympics.
