Great Northern Playlist
Ten Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Local Radio stations in the North of England have set the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic a challenge. The orchestra is covering 10 of the most iconic songs from across the North, as suggested by listeners. The tracks will form part of a Great Northern Playlist.
10 local Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio stations. 10 songs. One Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic orchestra.
The 80-piece orchestra has two weeks to write, record and perform each cover with individual parts recorded from the musician's own home and then edited together.
Each song selected by the radio station's breakfast presenters is picked to best symbolise their area.
Rozina Breen, head of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North, said: "The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic is a northern institution and to hear it connect directly with our diverse communities across the North will be very special.
"The North has produced some of the world's best bands, musicians and songwriters and our aim is to bring communities in crisis together creatively, through music, with a celebration of our shared and world-renowned musical heritage."
Taking on the challenge
"We have honed our skills creating lockdown tracks like this for 5Live, 6Music, Radio 3 and Radio 4 but have never attempted something on this scale before," says Simon Webb, director of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic.
"To take ten popular songs, turn them into pieces that dozens of classically trained musicians can play - all while those musicians are stuck in their own homes - is going to be a real challenge but the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic is no stranger to creative challenges and we can't wait to get stuck in."
Where to listen
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Local Radio stations taking part are Radio Humberside, Radio Cumbria, Radio Merseyside, Radio Tees, Radio Leeds, Radio Manchester, Radio York, Radio Lancashire, Radio Newcastle and Radio Sheffield.
Keep up to date with the challenge using the hashtags and .