Classical Music Lovers are in for a Treat at Unique Concert Supporting Britain’s Emergency Services
Smith Square Hall, London – On Friday 11th October 2024 at 7:30pm, the Blue Light Symphony Orchestra (BLSO) will take the stage to perform for an audience of classical music enthusiasts. The BLSO, consisting of serving police, firefighters, paramedics, NHS staff, civilian support staff and ex-military who play instruments, will showcase their musical talents in support of the UK’s emergency services.
This highly-anticipated event will be attended by senior leaders, including Chief Constables, Chief Fire Officers and Ambulance Trust Chief Executives from England and Wales. The concert will also be supported by police and fire cadets who will serve as ushers for the evening.
Audiences can expect to hear popular pieces such as Beethoven’s overture ‘Egmont’, described by Orchestra founder Seb Valentine as “all the turmoil of the 5th Symphony distilled into fewer than 10 minutes”. The performance will also include Mozart’s Piano concerto No.20 in D minor, a stormy and dramatic piece performed by former police officer Schay Wickam. And to close the evening, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5, which combines “bitter coldness and fiery passion” to deliver an explosive crescendo.
Valentine, a serving Surrey Police officer and graduate of the Royal College of Music, founded the BLSO in 2016 with a mission to provide positive mental health benefits to emergency service personnel and showcase their hidden musical talents. Speaking about the upcoming concert, he says, “This unique event is a celebration of the musical talent within the UK’s emergency services. It is a rare opportunity for these selfless individuals to show their human side and express themselves artistically. We hope that the concert will provide audiences with nourishment for the soul and present the emergency services in an even more positive light.”
Tickets for the concert are available for £21.60, with concessions for blue light workers. They can be purchased online at: https://www.sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk/book-online/5801/. The proceeds from the event will go towards the BLSO’s charitable work, including outreach activities and a music therapy program tailored to the needs of emergency workers. This program builds on a successful pilot in Surrey and Sussex in 2021.
For further information, please contact Seb Valentine at 07773 372575.
Notes to Editors:
– The Blue Light Symphony Orchestra is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1184720).
– Founded by Surrey Police Officer Seb Valentine in 2016, the BLSO aims to provide positive mental health benefits to emergency service personnel and showcase their hidden musical talents.
– BLSO runs day and weekend orchestra workshops with no ongoing commitment, making them accessible to shift workers who cannot join other orchestras that rehearse regularly.
– The charity is user-led, with four out of six trustees working in the emergency services. One of the trustees is a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade and a professional violinist, having toured with Pete Tong.
– Event: BLSO Concert 2024
– Date: Friday 11th October 2024
– Location: Smith Square Hall, London, SW1P 3HA
– Time: VIP reception from 6pm, Concert at 7:30pm – 9:40pm
