Last month’s trip to see live classical music in London took musicians from WHSB to the Royal Festival Hall to see the world-class Philharmonia Orchestra, led by international superstar conductor Marin Alsop.

The evening included a vivacious performance of Danzon by Mexican composer Arturo Marquez, and the London premiere of Gabriela Ortiz's recent Grammy-winning Cello Concerto, performed by virtuoso Alisa Weilerstein.

The second half featured a mature and sensitive interpretation of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, a musical retelling of 'One Thousand and One Nights'. The encore was a piece commissioned by Allsop by composer Anna Clyne to help promote women leadership positions in the arts. It was a joyfully raucous piece featuring singing, shouting and stomping from the orchestra; 'what women are really thinking', as the conductor told us!

With thanks to Mr Derrick and his colleagues for arranging and supporting this wonderful trip.