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Play to the Nation

Play to the Nation
BBC Radio 3 has teamed up with Making Music to find the best and most diverse amateur music making the UK has to offer.



Play to the Nation aims to celebrate the enormous part amateur orchestras play in British cultural life. Building on the ambitious Listen Up! festivals (2004 and 2006), amateur orchestras have been invited to send in recordings of their performances.

On October 1st, the Play to the Nation season kicked off with an evening of four amateur orchestras specially recorded by the BBC. Throughout October, following the main evening concert from the UK’s top professional orchestras, Performance on 3 will continue to feature some of the hundreds of amateur orchestras regularly performing throughout the UK.

There will also be the chance to hear highlights of five Pianothons which take place in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and Manchester - eight-hour-long piano marathons which aim to bring together amateur pianists of all ages and abilities during October.

      Making Music
      Visit the Making Music website for more information."
        Four amateur orchestras specially recorded by the BBC, broadcast in Performance on 3, Wednesday 1 October
          Other amateur orchestras featured on Performance on 3 as part of Play to the Nation:

          Please click on the links for more information (the BBC is not responsible for the contents of external websites)

             London Contemporary Chamber Orchestra

            The London Contemporary Chamber Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3,  Thursday 2 October 

              Chester Philharmonic Orchestra

              The Chester Philharmonic Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 2 October

                St. Clements Wind Ensemble

                The St. Clements Wind Ensemble was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 2 October

                  London Sitar Ensemble

                  The London Sitar Ensemble was broadcast during Performance on 3, Monday 6 October

                    Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra

                    The Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Monday 6 October

                      Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra

                      The Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Tuesday 7 October

                        Solway Harps

                        The Solway Harps were broadcast during Performance on 3, Tuesday 7 October

                          East Midlands COMA Ensemble

                          The East Midlands COMA Ensemble was broadcast during Performance on 3, Wednesday 8 October

                            Cheltenham Philharmonic Orchestra

                            The Cheltenham Philharmonic Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Wednesday 8 October

                              Sheffield Symphony Orchestra

                              The Sheffield Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Wednesday 8 October

                                Solway Sinfonia

                                The Solway Sinfonia was broadcast during Performance on 3, Friday 10 October

                                  Solihull Symphony Orchestra

                                  The Solihull Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Monday 13 October

                                    London Gay Symphony Orchestra

                                    The London Gay Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Monday 13 October

                                      Havant Symphony Orchestra

                                      The Havant Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Tuesday 14 October

                                        Amadeus Orchestra

                                        The Amadeus Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 16 October

                                          Stockport Symphony Orchestra

                                          The Stockport Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Friday 17 October

                                            Nonesuch Orchestra

                                            The Nonesuch Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Monday 20 October

                                              Winscombe Orchestra

                                              The Winscombe Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Tuesday 21 October

                                                Meadows Chamber Orchestra

                                                The Meadows Chamber Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Wednesday 22 October

                                                  Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra

                                                  The Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Wednesday 22 October

                                                    City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra

                                                    The City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 23 October

                                                      The Whitehall Orchestra

                                                      The Whitehall Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 23 October

                                                        The London Lawyers’ Symphony Orchestra

                                                        The London Lawyers’ Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 23 October

                                                          Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra

                                                          The Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Monday 27 October

                                                            Birmingham Chamber Orchestra

                                                            The Birmingham Chamber Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Tuesday 28 October

                                                              Bromley Symphony Orchestra

                                                              The Bromley Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Tuesday 28 October

                                                                The Innovations Jazz Orchestra

                                                                The Innovations Jazz Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 30 October

                                                                  Flutes & Co

                                                                  Flutes & Co was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 30 October

                                                                    Ealing Youth Orchestra

                                                                    The Ealing Youth Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 30 October

                                                                      Yorkshire Late Starters Strings

                                                                      The Yorkshire Late Starters Strings was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 30 October

                                                                        Oxford Sinfonia

                                                                        The Oxford Sinfonia was broadcast during Performance on 3, Thursday 30 October

                                                                          Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra

                                                                          The Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra was broadcast during Performance on 3, Friday 31 October

                                                                            COMA London Ensemble

                                                                            The COMA London Ensemble was broadcast during Performance on 3, Friday 31 October

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