91Èȱ¬

A harpist from Howarth, a ukulele orchestra from Hull, Columbian drummers from Leeds, the York Minster carillon player* and a Sheffield brass band will join forces with over 200 musicians from all over the county next week to start filming the 91Èȱ¬'s ambitious musical project for Yorkshire.

A Symphony For Yorkshire is a short musical film which is being put together by 91Èȱ¬ Yorkshire following open auditions and a competition to write the lyrics to a new Yorkshire anthem.

The Symphony will be heard for the first time across 91Èȱ¬ local radio stations – Sheffield, York, Leeds and Humberside – on Yorkshire Day, on 1 August, and broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ Look North.

91Èȱ¬ Head of Yorkshire, Helen Thomas, said: "We will be filming right across Yorkshire from the moors to the coast and at many iconic points in between.

"We'll be putting pianos on hilltops, a washboard in a boat and a hand** ocarina on a tram with some African drummers. It's challenging but it will tell the story of today's Yorkshire."

The symphony is composed by Benjamin Till and performed by musicians of all types and ages.

Benjamin says: "Yorkshire people have to be among the proudest people on the planet. It's been an enormous thrill and a great honour to be able to write a piece of music which brings so many Yorkshire-based musicians from so many different musical traditions together."

The lyrics are by 98-year-old great grandmother Doreen Brigham, from Harrogate.

*A Carillon is a musical instrument consisting of 23 or more cast bronze, traditionally-shaped bells.

**Ocarinas are round-shaped flutes.

CM2/JC4