Last Night of the Proms performance for musicians - 24/9/09

Published: 24 September, 2009

On "The Last Night of The Proms", Plymouth College musicians, Clarissa Hocking and Harriet Benson, who both play viola with South West Camerata, found themselves working with the BBC and performing at the big screen event in Plymouth.

Whilst neither pupil is a stranger to public performance or working with professionals and the BBC, this was a new and highly enjoyable experience. The performance lasted for an hour and a half and the repertoire was very wide ranging, culminating with the inevitable favourites.

South West Camerata is an unconducted string ensemble for advanced players but many members have other talents, including superb singing and jazz. They are directed by the inspirational Fiona McLean. By the end of the performance both girls were exhausted, particularly as they had spent three hours in the morning with their Camerata colleagues recording a CD to raise funds to aid existing projects and help fund their tour next year which includes The Edinburgh Festival and performances in Glasgow.