John Wilson Orchestra with Tap Dancers at the BBC Prom concert.
This photo was taken during the rehearsal. The whole concert, later that day, was stunningly brilliant but the tap-dance routine at the end was the icing on the cake. I’ve never heard such an ecstatic reaction from any audience before!
Horn section of John Wilson Orchestra
Here are Nick Hougham, Tim Ball and Chris Parkes – my hornplaying chums in the John Wilson Orchestra.
John Wilson Orchestra Showcase at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
Here’s Sir John during rehearsal for a blistering display of MGM gems. Carousel, Sound of Music and others.
John Wilson Orchestra Showcase at EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Nick Hougham, Tim Ball and Chris Parkes (Principal) are the hornplayers seen here at Abbey Road.
This was fun – a promotional play through of some fantastic bits of MGM film scores.
This band sounds incredible. If you haven’t heard it yet, then you’re in for a massive treat.
I took the photo during the rehearsal. For the performance we all wore smart black and looked nearly as good as we sounded.
Rehearsal and proposal – My Fair Lady
This was quite an extraordinary event. I wish I’d had a proper camera with me – all I had was my mobile phone. Still, it’s not too bad….
At the end of the final rehearsal for yesterday’s performance of My Fair Lady at the Proms, with the John Wilson Orchestra, there were a few group acknowledgements and thanks. Toward the end of these ceremonies one of the girls from the chorus found herself being pushed centre stage and an unknown man approached approached her. Hush descended. It was hard to hear what was said but I think he told her that he loved her and she said that she loved him. Then he got down on one knee, took out a ring from a little box and proposed to her!
Lucky for him she accepted. In the circumstances, how could she have refused? Top marks for a grand romantic gesture.
But top marks to who? Who was this stranger to our stage? If anyone out there knows please do let me know as I’d like to get in touch. Apart from this photo (which is of extremely poor quality, I know, but not bad for a telephone – I had stupidly left my camera in the dressing room – durrrr) I have a few other snaps which the couple may like to see. I didn’t see anyone else taking photos – most people were staring, wide-eyed and open mouthed, or weeping.
Owen Slade, tuba.
Andy Wood, Owen Slade and Annie Bielby with the John Wilson Orchestra in Leeds Town Hall, December 2011