Press Releases

BBC Proms is taking to the streets of London for a musical marathon, bringing hours of free live music to many of the city's communities on Thursday 25 June 2009.

Members of the world-renowned BBC Symphony Orchestra are to perform for free in unexpected venues around the capital ranging from the Natural History Museum, Lyric Square in Hammersmith,
St Pancras International and Waterloo Tube Station.

The day culminates in a musical spectacular, when the full orchestral force of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, nearly 100 musicians, gives a free concert at Westfield shopping centre. The day marks the meeting of some world-famous institutions, magnificent public spaces of London with the magical sounds of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC's flagship orchestra, which performs over 12 concerts in the festival, including the First and Last Nights of the Proms.

Inspired by the rich heritage of London, the Westfield concert features British music including Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Eric Coates' London Calling and a world premiere by renowned film and jazz composer Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Chelsea Reach. John Wilson, who features at the MGM Musicals Prom on 1 August, conducts the concert, which also highlights BBC Radio 3 New Generation trumpeter, Giuliano Sommerhalder.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra reaches out in the most literal sense – being out and about in the busiest and most iconic corners of this great city, as well as taking their music to many schools and hospitals along the way. It will take some stamina from the performers, but they aim to inspire Londoners and give them an unexpected insight into the BBC Proms.

The BBC Proms is also encouraging members of the public to pick up their own instruments and join in to help create a Family Orchestra at the Westfield event. This is a rare and invaluable opportunity for people of all ages to play alongside members of the world-class BBC Symphony Orchestra. This workshop session will be at Westfield shopping centre from 4.30-5.30pm

The Out+About event is part of the Story of London Festival, a month-long celebration of the city's past, present and future organised by the Mayor of London, in partnership with a host of organisations across the capital. The festival takes place throughout the whole of June 2009, with more than 350 events aimed at tourists and Londoners alike.

BBC Proms Out+About, now in its seventh year, is striving to bring the essence of the festival directly to the communities of London. It provides opportunities for families to get involved and for individuals to develop their own musical knowledge through the Proms Learning initiatives, which continue throughout the BBC Proms – 17 July to 12 September.

This is a chance for all to be part of this internationally-renowned classical music festival. Previous Out+About events include performances at Heathrow's Terminal 5 last year and two concerts at the Brighton Dome in 2007.

Passers by, participants and audiences will be encouraged to attend the free Family Prom at the Royal Albert Hall on 26 July and the Darwin-inspired extravaganzas for kids on 1 and 2 August. The BBC Proms provides a great, value for money experience for all the family and tickets for under-16s remain at half price for all Proms (excluding the First and Last Night concerts).

Performances will take place at the following places and times:

9.30am – St Pancras International
10.00am – BBC White City Reception
11.00am – Shepherd's Bush Library
11.00am – University of the Third Age
11.30am – British Museum
11.30am – Askew Road Library
12.00noon – Lyric Square, Hammersmith
1.00pm – Connections at St Martins
1.00pm – UCH Hospital
1.15pm – Waterloo Tube Station
1.30pm – Victoria Embankment Bandstand
1.30pm – Heart Hospital
2.00pm – The National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery
2.00pm – Lyric Hammersmith Community Garden
3.00pm – Natural History Museum
4.30pm – Westfield Shopping Centre, Family Orchestra
7.00pm – Westfield Shopping Centre, Free Prom

Notes to Editors

The BBC Proms is opening the doors to the Royal Albert Hall for a free Prom on Sunday 26 July at 11.00am. Devised to give new and young audiences a first taste of classical music, the prom will include music by Khachaturian, Chopin, Holst, Edgar and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. It showcases the talents of violinist Jennifer Pike, one of the current stars of Radio 3's New Generation Artists. These free tickets will be available from the Royal Albert Hall Box Office (in person, online or by phone – 0845 401 5040) from Thursday 25 June 2009.

The Proms season spans from Friday 17 July to Saturday 12 September 2009. The BBC Proms continues to reinvent itself and attract audiences both in the Royal Albert Hall and for the daily live broadcasts on Radio 3 and regular televised concerts. The intense musical activity extends over eight weeks and comprises an evening concert each night, with late-night and regular lunchtime concerts. The BBC Proms continues its strong commitment to distinctive programming performed in a relaxed and inspiring setting. Proms concerts at the Royal Albert Hall available from £5. Please see further details at bbc.co.uk/proms.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra has played a central role at the heart of British musical life since its inception in 1930, and as the flagship orchestra of the BBC it provides the backbone of the BBC Proms with at least a dozen concerts each year including the First and Last Nights. The BBC SO has a strong commitment to 20th century and contemporary music, having given the premieres of more than 1,000 works by composers including Bartok, Britten, Hindemith, Holst, Stravinsky and Shostakovich. More recently, it has given world premieres of BBC commissions by such leading composers as Simon Bainbridge, Jonathan Dove, Brian Elias and Michael Nyman. As Associate Orchestra of the Barbican, the BBC Symphony Orchestra presents an annual season of concerts (3 October 2009 - 8 May 2010) which is packed full of new music, great orchestral works and vocal and choral masterpieces. The orchestra is committed to innovative education work: ongoing projects include BBC Music Intro, which introduces families to live classical music; and the highly successful BBC SO Family Orchestra.

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