MEMBERS of Skipton Community Orchestra will be part of the BBC’s famous Last Night of the Proms celebrations.

The musicians met at Holy Trinity Church Vestry Rooms on July 12, and after some rehearsal, they recorded a performance for the BBC’s online ‘virtual’ orchestra, which will be turned into a film and shown as part of the Last Night of the Proms celebration.

The session in Skipton was part of the BBC’s nationwide Get Playing campaign, which encourages everyone, from lapsed players who want to dust off their instruments and brush up their skills to enthusiastic amateurs who play regularly.

Skipton Community Orchestra founder, Catherine Davison, said: “The BBC’s Get Playing event nicely rounded off our final rehearsal for the season and we are all looking forward to finding out if we're going to be part of the virtual orchestra.

"We would love to do it again.”

Twenty people attended the performance and played with conductor, Jess Mahler. They practised Toreador's Song for an hour and ten minutes before recording.

Get Playing culminates in a huge celebration on the Last Night of the Proms with the BBC’s first ever ‘virtual’ or digital orchestra.

To join in, budding musicians need to log on to the special website and upload a short film of themselves playing The Toreador Song from Bizet’s opera Carmen.

The BBC will then edit the videos into a three-minute performance, which will be shown on the BBC iPlayer and big screens at Proms in the Park around the UK.

The ambassador for BBC Get Playing is comedian David Baddiel, a keen piano player, who will add his performance to the virtual orchestra.

He said: “There is something about playing music as an amateur, which is brilliant and life-enriching.

"This is a unique opportunity to be part of something amazing on the biggest night in the classical music calendar, and I hope everybody will feel able to have a go and join in the fun.”

On TV, Get Playing includes two prime-time TV shows for BBC Two and BBC Four – the UK’s Best Part Time Band and a series showcasing a contest of the nation’s most inspiring amateur orchestras.