A group of 19 amateur Yorkshire musicians have just four weeks to perfect to Big Band sound before they perform to an audience of around 1,200.
The musicians, aged between 13 and 75, have been chosen from over 100 hopefuls to join a new Yorkshire Big Band, which has been set up and supported by BBC Radio Leeds in aid of Children in Need.
They have until October 30 to get good enough to perform before a paying audience at Leeds Town Hall alongside Yorkshire jazz singer Clare Teal, pop star Olly Murs and Grammy-nominated jazz singer Gregory Porter.
Saturday was the first day of rehearsals and already the nerves are building.
Ms Teal said: “There are big butterflies in my tummy but mainly from excitement – it’s going to be an incredible experience.”
The music on the night will be everything from Motown to Latin and Gospel.
Ms Teal, who is a BBC Radio 2 presenter, said: “The real stars of this concert will be the band. They are wonderful and are really reaching above their current level and are not taking anything for granted.”
Fans of Olly Murs will get to hear his latest single as well as some of his previous hits, all done in a swing style.
The Yorkshire Big Band is made up of five saxophone players, five trumpeters, five trombonists and four rhythm players alongside five professional musicians.
Guitarist Andreas Wong, 13, from Wetherby, is the youngest soloist, while the most senior soloist is 75-year-old Helena Wilson, a singer from Leeds.
The band’s musical director Grant Windsor said: “It has been absolutely amazing and inspiring; the exponential curve of development with these guys has been astounding.
“It has blown away my expectations.”
Amateur band members also include Christopher Adsett, Scott Stockdale, Lizzie Rogozinski, Neil Jowett and Jake Jones.
The concert is raising money for BBC Children in Need and will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio Leeds and on Radio 2.
Call 0113 2243801 for tickets costing up to £15.
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