An orchestra has been named as the star of a new BBC show.
Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra are only one of five amateur groups selected from across the UK to take part in BBC Two series All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge.
The novel four part series will burst onto our screens in late August, and will focus on the orchestras’ battle to be crowned the BBC’s most inspirational amateur orchestra and play at its Proms in the Park in London on September 10.
The series will be presented by BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms presenter Katie Derham, who took part in 2015’s Strictly Come Dancing.
It is a dream come true for the up to 80 member strong Colne Valley orchestra, who this year are also celebrating their 125th year in existence, after being set up by working men from the textile industry.
BBC crews filmed them rehearsing, performing at a concert and even sent them to the corporation’s iconic Maida Vale studios in London to record their music.
The other orchestras featured in the show include the London Gay Symphony Orchestra, North Devon Sinfonia, Stirling Orchestra and The People’s Orchestra from Birmingham.
“We received an email inviting us to apply in January,” said Chris Woodhead, orchestra secretary and violinist.
“We ended up being shortlisted and a video team came up to interview us, before selecting us as one of the five.
“It’s a fantastic thing for a local orchestra to be involved with.
“And it’s great that we get to represent both Huddersfield and the north of England.
“Huddersfield has a fantastic tradition of high quality music making so it’s great that we can be ambassadors for it.”
Chris has been instructed by the BBC not to give too much away.
“I can’t say what goes on exactly, or which piece we played for the series.
“But they filmed us practicing at the Civic Hall in Slaithwaite several times and at our last concert on June 18 at Dewsbury Town Hall.
“Going to Maida Vale was great– we never thought that we’d end up playing there.
“We didn’t know which other orchestras were involved at first as the producing team kept it very secretive, but we met each other at the Maida Vale studios.
“We actually bumped into another person now playing for the North Devon Sinfonia, who used to be in our orchestra while he was at university in Huddersfield in the 1990s.”
The series announcement comes part way through their special anniversary year.
“It’s been a brilliant opportunity for us, especially considering it’s our 125th year.
“The programme will come just ahead of the start of our 2016 to 17 season, which will begin with a concert at Huddersfield Town Hall on October 15.”
