Concert pays tribute to orchestra leader

The programme will feature Borodin’s overture to Prince Igor, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue – with solo pianist Katharine Lam – and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.

The guest conductor for the concert will be the acclaimed young conductor Dominic Grier, making his debut with the orchestra.

His recent performances and programmes lined up include Eugene Onegin for The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, Cinderella for Northern Ballet and several ballets for Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Katharine Lam made her London debut in 2004 and has gone on to perform with the CBSO, the Birmingham Conservatoire’s Delius and the Ireland Festival.

The concert includes two items chosen as a remembrance of Jeremy Ballard, who was the orchestra’s leader for 21 years and who died last month after a short illness.

He was a great lover of Elgar and the evening will begin with Elgar’s Chanson de Nuit and end with Sir Henry Wood’s Hornpipe, well-known from the Last Night of the Proms.

The concert starts at 7.30pm, March 7, in the school theatre.

For tickets and prices phone 01926 850385 or go to www.wso.org.uk