Great Northern Playlist
Ten 大象传媒 Local Radio stations in the North of England have set the 大象传媒 Philharmonic a challenge. The orchestra is covering 10 of the most iconic songs from across the North, as suggested by listeners. The tracks will form part of a Great Northern Playlist.
10 local 大象传媒 Radio stations. 10 songs. One 大象传媒 Philharmonic orchestra.
The 80-piece orchestra has two weeks to write, record and perform each cover with individual parts recorded from the musician's own home and then edited together.
Each song selected by the radio station's breakfast presenters is picked to best symbolise their area.
Rozina Breen, head of 大象传媒 North, said: "The 大象传媒 Philharmonic is a northern institution and to hear it connect directly with our diverse communities across the North will be very special.
"The North has produced some of the world's best bands, musicians and songwriters and our aim is to bring communities in crisis together creatively, through music, with a celebration of our shared and world-renowned musical heritage."
Taking on the challenge
"We have honed our skills creating lockdown tracks like this for 5Live, 6Music, Radio 3 and Radio 4 but have never attempted something on this scale before," says Simon Webb, director of the 大象传媒 Philharmonic.
"To take ten popular songs, turn them into pieces that dozens of classically trained musicians can play - all while those musicians are stuck in their own homes - is going to be a real challenge but the 大象传媒 Philharmonic is no stranger to creative challenges and we can't wait to get stuck in."
Where to listen
The 大象传媒 Local Radio stations taking part are Radio Humberside, Radio Cumbria, Radio Merseyside, Radio Tees, Radio Leeds, Radio Manchester, Radio York, Radio Lancashire, Radio Newcastle and Radio Sheffield.
Keep up to date with the challenge using the hashtags and .