Proms tradition proves popular

The indoor PROMS tradition began more than 100 years ago on Saturday, August 10, 1895, at Queen's Hall, London with the first Henry Wood Promenade Concert. Prior to that date, the orchestra played outdoors while folk promenaded in all their finery as they enjoyed the music. That was how The Proms (for short) acquired its name.
In the UK to this day, The Proms is still a season of nightly concerts for several weeks, culminating in The Last Night of the Proms, the party night which is always booked out months in advance. The thousands of folk who miss out on tickets flock to Hyde Park to enjoy the atmosphere of Proms in the Park, which is relayed on huge screens from the Royal Albert Hall with crossovers to audiences in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Bay of Plenty Symphonia is proud of the fact that their inaugural The Last Night of the Proms in May 1999 was such a smash hit that it has since become a biennial event on our city's musical calendar. Our Antipodean equivalent of the London original has all the flag waving, hat-wearing fun that follows the London tradition, complete with "Britannia" herself. It is traditional for concert-goers to add their lusty rendition to the orchestral accompaniment of Rule, Britannia, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory, raising the Baycourt roof at every performance.
Featured in the programme is Academic Festival Overture, Karelia Suite, Polovestsian Dancers and Adagio from Spartacus to name a few, so the Proms promises to offer music for every ear. A highlight will be Jose Pablo Moncayo's fantastic Haupango, which is a vibrant and scintillating work.
The beautiful voices of the Bethlehem College choir will leave you spellbound. We have such wonderful talent in our schools and the symphonia is proud to showcase the choir and accompany them on the Baycourt stage. As well as featuring young people in the choir, the orchestra is made up of musicians from students through to our very proficient adult members.
Guest soloist will be the stunning Sharon Cotter, a versatile soprano and entertainer with more than 20 years' experience, performing songs from Broadway, theatre, popera, contemporary ballads and swing jazz. Cotter has played numerous roles in musical theatre. Her career highlight of 2010, however, was representing her country; singing the Welsh national anthem prior to the All Black v Wales test match at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton in front of 30,000 people, and also to a global televised audience.
She is very much looking forward to being part of the "Proms" family once again.
So do join Bay of Plenty Symphonia, take your family and friends. Get a group together and dress up formal or dress for fun - red, white and blue - anything Union Jack or the New Zealand flag.
The Last Night of the Proms Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga
Saturday, May 14, 2011 @ 7.30pm
Sunday, May 15, 2011 @ 3pm
Prices: Friends of Baycourt, Seniors, Groups of 10 or more - $27
Adults - $32 Friends of the Symphonia - $25
Students - $10 Family (2 adults, 3 children) - $75