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Appleby-raised musician Ben MacDougall is to host a series of programmes for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Cumbria.

Ben will present Simply Classics on Sundays, 6.00-7.00pm, for six weeks from Sunday 19 April 2009.

Ben said: "I'll be playing a mixture of the good old classics: the Viennese Waltzes, The Lark Ascending, The Four Seasons. The twist comes with the other music that I'll be playing, classical music you can recognise and associate with, such as music from film.

"It's all about opening the music up to people, showing that classical music isn't a stuffy subject, but is in fact a living, breathing thing that is truly exciting. If you play two people the same piece of music and ask them what they thought of it afterwards – you'll more than likely get two completely different answers.

"It's fantastic to be able to do this in my home county. Since I started music all those years ago, it's always been the home-crowd that have supported me – and put up with my busking during the holidays, so I really can't wait to give something back. Words honestly can't describe the levels of excitement I am feeling about this."

Ben is a flautist who is currently studying at the Royal College of Music in London. The 20-year-old has previously appeared on ´óÏó´«Ã½ television when he was selected as one of nine finalists on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two's classical music contest Classical Star in 2007.

Radio Cumbria's Managing Editor, Nigel Dyson, said: "Ben MacDougall first came to my attention as one of the students in the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Classical Star contest. Earlier this year I invited him to record a pilot show for us and I was very impressed. He's a very talented musician and I think his enthusiasm for classical music really comes across on air."

SR2