The North Devon Sinfonia has been named as the winner of All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge.
The initiative was a nationwide search for the orchestra that best captures the spirit of amateur music-making in the UK.
The sinfonia has won the chance to perform at BBC Proms in the Park, Hyde Park, as part of the world-famous Last Night of the Proms, in front of family, friends and an audience of thousands.
All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge followed five orchestras through months of masterclasses, mentoring sessions and rehearsals before culminating in a musical playoff between the two final orchestras - North Devon Sinfonia and Stirling Orchestra - at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
All competing orchestras were mentored through the process by double-bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku, and judged by conductor Paul Daniel.
Commenting, Paul Daniel said: ‘Five wonderful orchestras have lit up the nation's hearts with their music making. Every single one of the hundreds of musicians who took part in All Together Now showed us why amateur orchestras in this country are the envy of the world.
‘I knew that it would be a thrilling ride, but the dedication and generosity with which they all faced the challenge was inspiring and moving. No matter where they started from, I was looking beyond mere technical excellence: I wanted my 'best' orchestra to be a beacon in their community: I wanted them to search behind the notes on the page, to engage us with the incredible emotional power of the symphony orchestra. In the end, my champions battled with the challenges and demands of the music they played, and captured our hearts with their ambition and imagination. Bravo, North Devon Sinfonia, and their indomitable conductor Emma Kent!’
The North Devon Sinfonia brings music to rural North Devon under the baton of conductor Emma Kent. Its line-up includes a cheese maker, lupin grower, postman, and a number of doctors and teachers.
Pictured - presenters Katie Derham, Paul Daniel and Chi-chi Nwanoku.
The initiative was a nationwide search for the orchestra that best captures the spirit of amateur music-making in the UK.
The sinfonia has won the chance to perform at BBC Proms in the Park, Hyde Park, as part of the world-famous Last Night of the Proms, in front of family, friends and an audience of thousands.
All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge followed five orchestras through months of masterclasses, mentoring sessions and rehearsals before culminating in a musical playoff between the two final orchestras - North Devon Sinfonia and Stirling Orchestra - at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
All competing orchestras were mentored through the process by double-bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku, and judged by conductor Paul Daniel.
Commenting, Paul Daniel said: ‘Five wonderful orchestras have lit up the nation's hearts with their music making. Every single one of the hundreds of musicians who took part in All Together Now showed us why amateur orchestras in this country are the envy of the world.
‘I knew that it would be a thrilling ride, but the dedication and generosity with which they all faced the challenge was inspiring and moving. No matter where they started from, I was looking beyond mere technical excellence: I wanted my 'best' orchestra to be a beacon in their community: I wanted them to search behind the notes on the page, to engage us with the incredible emotional power of the symphony orchestra. In the end, my champions battled with the challenges and demands of the music they played, and captured our hearts with their ambition and imagination. Bravo, North Devon Sinfonia, and their indomitable conductor Emma Kent!’
The North Devon Sinfonia brings music to rural North Devon under the baton of conductor Emma Kent. Its line-up includes a cheese maker, lupin grower, postman, and a number of doctors and teachers.
Pictured - presenters Katie Derham, Paul Daniel and Chi-chi Nwanoku.
