York Proms made its much anticipated return to the city last night (Sunday), and what a spectacular show it was.
Hosted by YorkMix’s very own Ben Fry, the event drew a huge crowd who gathered beneath the evening sunshine to enjoy a host of fantastic performances, food and drink, and a sea of waving Union Jack flags.
The picnic concert, set in the Museum Gardens, featured a line-up of choirs, a live orchestra, dancers, and soloists, all curated by soprano and organiser Rebecca Newman.
Now in its seventh year, the York Proms opened with a powerful performance by the York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir, accompanied by the orchestra.
Other acts included Lucy’s Pop Choir, the Rock Choir, Bridge Shanty Crew, York Musical Theatre Company and the Katie Ventress Dance School.
What made the evening especially memorable was the moment the lionesses bagged the Euro 2025 title, following a tense penalty shootout against Spain.
Town Crier Ben Fry gave a live commentary of the final moments and announced the victory to the crowd, sparking a flurry of cheers, screams, and dancing.
This year’s guest soprano was Lucy Farrimond, who has performed for national and international audiences at iconic venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Paris.
She’s featured on major television and radio networks, and made her solo debut at the BBC Proms in 2019.
Joining her on stage was tenor Oscar Bowen-Hill, who’s about to enter the final year of his professional training at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Lucy and Oscar brought the concert to a fantastic finale with a duet, that was followed by a spectacular firework display that lit up the sky.
Speaking to YorkMix, organiser Rebecca said, “We’re so pleased with how it’s gone, the crowd has been fantastic and everybody has worked really hard.
“It’s all thanks to our sponsors for making it possible, and a big thanks to YorkMix for coming, and to Ben Fry for being the town crier and being a fantastic compare. It couldn’t have gone any better.”
Roll on next year! More pictures below.
