Last Night of the Proms - Proms at St Jude's Music and Literary Festival 2015

An exuberant finale to the Festival, with the London International Orchestra and soloists in a programme including Lehar, Bruch, Rossini and Verdi plus the usual exciting Last Night favourites.

The London International Orchestra: Howard Williams (conductor), Vasko Vassilev (violin), Andriy Viytovych (viola) and Victoria Simmonds (mezzo-soprano) with a programme including works by Lehar, Bruch, Rossini and Verdi plus the usual exciting Last Night favourites.

The Orchestra is composed of dedicated musicians of all ages, nationalities, denominations and occupations, including doctors, students, lawyers, dentists, scientists, youth prizewinners, professionals and ex-professionals. They are united in their love of music and furtherance of charity.

Howard Williams has conducted the London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic and BBC Symphony as well as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted at the BBC Proms, at festivals across Europe and was the first British musician to become Principal Conductor of an orchestra in Hungary when he took charge of the Pécs Symphony Orchestra.

Vasko Vassilev is concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and is a frequent guest leader at other top London orchestras. He has worked with musicians such as as Plàcido Domingo, Sting, Ronnie Wood and Vanessa-Mae.

Andriy Viytovych has been principal viola of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden since 2000 and has guested as principal viola with many of the world’s major orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker by invitation of Sir Simon Rattle.

Victoria Simmonds' roles have included Nancy T’ang in Nixon in China with the ENO, Carmen at the Royal Albert Hall, Wellgunde in Das Rheingold with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle and Ascanius in The Trojans with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis.