Search is on for our Symphony Idols

CALLING ALL SINGERS – here is your chance to take to the stage in front of thousands of people and be a star of this year’s spectacular Symphony at the Tower.

We have teamed up with the Lancashire Evening Post and concert promoters Cuffe and Taylor to launch Symphony Idols – a county-wide search for singing talent to join pop sensation Will Young and US blues and rock great Joe Bonamassa on the bill.

We are looking for five choirs and five solo singers to open this year’s Symphony Spectacular at the beautiful Hoghton Tower on Sunday, July 3.

The event, in aid of the hospice, is a classical picnic Proms-style concert for all the family and is a popular date in Lancashire’s live music calendar – complete with an explosive firework finale.

So if you are aged 4 to 104, a solo singer or in a school or community choir – or even fancy forming a group with friends or work colleagues – get rehearsing!

All you need to do to enter is record a video performance of you or your choir singing any song of your choosing, be that classical, contemporary or downright original, and send it to the Evening Post (details below).

Judges will create a shortlist and then Evening Post readers will vote for their favourites.

The five choirs and five solo singers who top the polls will book their place for a once-in-a-lifetime performance at Symphony Spectacular.

Symphony At The Tower, a flagship fundraising event which supports the specialised palliative and end-of-life care provided at the hospice and in the Central Lancashire community, will celebrate its 21st anniversary this summer.

Lorraine Charlesworth, director of income generation at St Catherine’s Hospice, said: “Over the years Symphony at the Tower has received fantastic support from music lovers and St Catherine’s supporters.

“It is a wonderful occasion and chance to bring people together in the name of a good cause; Symphony Idol offers a great opportunity to build on these important community roots by opening up the bill to local people.

“We’re really looking forward to hearing from the local talent which we know exists out there in Lancashire, and to sharing it with others on stage at the Symphony. It really is an extra special weekend to be part of, raising vital funds for a much-loved local charity.”

Cuffe and Taylor director Peter Taylor added: “Symphony At The Tower is a wonderful event which is a firm favourite across Lancashire and beyond.

“The Symphony Spectacular on Sunday July 3 is a fantastic day when all the family can enjoy a great day of fun while also listening to what will be a magnificent live orchestra.

“We pride ourselves on putting together a stunning professional Proms line-up and this year – ahead of our regular full programme of star-studded musicians and singers – we want to give local choirs and singers the chance to open the show as something extra for music fans.

“We are opening the gates two hours earlier to really get the atmosphere going and this is a wonderful opportunity for singers and choirs to show off their talents to a full festival crowd. It really is a prize money can’t buy!”

Evening Post editor Gillian Parkinson said: “The popularity of TV shows such as Gareth Malone’s The Choir have really captured the imagination of the nation and community choirs have never been more popular.

“We really want to reach out to everyone – be they a school choir, community choir or solo singer – and give them the chance to really show the world what they’ve got.

“And so we are delighted to launch the Symphony Idol which we really believe will showcase the wonderful singing talent Lancashire has.”

Will Young will headline the opening night of the three-day Symphony At The Tower on Friday, July 1.

The following night ‘Joe Bonamassa in Concert: A Salute to the British Blues Explosion’ will pay homage to some of the best blues rock guitarists, playing the hits of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.

Symphony will close on Sunday, July 3, with the Symphony Spectacular which features a live orchestra, picnics, family fun and fireworks.

THE PRIZE

The winning choirs will comprise: one primary school choir (aged 11 and under); one secondary school choir (aged 18 and under); one youth choir (aged 21 and under); and two open-age choirs (aged 4 to 104!).
The winning solo acts will comprise: one singer aged 11 and under; one singer aged under 18; one singer aged 18 to 24; and two singers aged 24 and over.

HOW TO ENTER

If your video is below 25mb or you would like to talk to someone about sending your video, email colin.ainscough@jpress.co.uk.
Alternatively, if your video is over 25mb you can send files of up to 2gb via www.wetransfer.com.
The closing date for entries is midnight on Sunday, May 1.

SYMPHONY TICKETS

Tickets for Will Young, Joe Bonamassa and Symphony Spectacular are all available now by visiting www.symphonyatthetower.co.uk, or from the hospice in Lostock Lane, Lostock Hall, Preston, PR5 5XU / 01772 629171.

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