This evening we are heading to the USA for a celebration of American composers. Works include Bernstein’s West Side Story overture from his 1957 smash Broadway hit, Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue marking the 100th anniversary of its first performance and An American in Paris inspired by the sights and sounds of 1920s Paris. Overlooked until quite recently, African-American composer Florence Price’s Adoration, is a simple yet beautiful work of deep devotion and sincerity, and Ives’ Three Places in New England portrays scenes from the American War of Independence and Civil War. Seeger was a pioneering modernist and her mesmeric Andante for Strings, is one of her best-known works. ArtsDesk described Fantasia Orchestra’s performances, led by founder Tom Fetherstonhaugh, as ‘the most directly emotional music to be experienced live post-lockdown.’ Tonight’s soloist is Martin James Bartlett, who Nice Matin said ‘is not only a prodigy of the piano but an accomplished artist who counts among the greats of his generation’.

Fascinating Aida’s Liza Pulman teams up with acclaimed musician and singer, Joe Stilgoe, in a vibrant and entertaining evening of classic songs and wit, virtuoso piano playing and exquisite vocals. Liza and Joe collaborated during lockdown on the beautiful Memphis In June and Bye Bye Blackbird, resulting in many requests to play live together and the creation of this show – a magical musical pairing in an evening of some of the best music ever recorded. All That Dazzles declared that ‘they both have an uncanny knack for injecting a dose of humour into the mix with the two resembling a highly polished double act’.

Liza’s 30-year career has encompassed music, theatre and comedy, from Glyndebourne Opera through West End musical theatre. She is one-third of the British satirical comedy group, Fascinating Aida.  Joe Stilgoe is an internationally acclaimed singer, pianist and songwriter, known for writing songs that feel like classics, and adapting classics so they sound like they’ve just been written. Joe’s career extends across theatre, TV and radio and he’s a regular on Radio 4.

Tonight’s programme includes songs by Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, Joe Stilgoe, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney and others.

Come and share the passion of tango with these five acclaimed musicians. Formed by David Juritz, this exceptional quintet was drawn together through their love of tango. He said, ‘It’s fantastic fun, even wild at times, but that’s not to say it isn’t challenging as well. To do it justice you have to approach it just as you would any other great music – with a sense of style and your total commitment, but also leaving enough freedom to experiment. When it happens, you feel like you’ve been set free. It’s just exhilarating’. This evening includes music by Astor Piazzolla, whose work revolutionised traditional tango music, incorporating jazz and classical music elements. The programme includes Oblivion, Libertango and Muerte del Ángel.

The internationally acclaimed Kanneh-Mason Trio will this evening share their passion for chamber music, joined by their friends Edgar Francis and Toby Hughes. The Kanneh-Mason Trio have performed around the world.  Sheku shot to fame when he won BBC Young Musician in 2016 and he was a soloist at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Isata is in great demand as a soloist and chamber musician and was an Echo Rising Star pianist in 2021-22. Braimah, a versatile violinist who performs as a soloist, is a passionate advocate of diversity in music education. Welsh violist Edgar was a 1st Prize Winner at the 2021 Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition, and bass player Toby’s career is marked by numerous awards and competition wins and a recently released album. The programme includes Mendelssohn’s Cello Sonata No 1, which has been described as imaginative, graceful and at times passionate; Brahms’ Piano Trio, described as ‘a composition that is subtle, clever, and impossible to pigeonhole into a standard’; and Schubert’s effervescent and popular Piano Quintet in A major, better known as The Trout, which is probably the most famous of all piano quintets.

An extraordinary evening of music with Echo Ensemble and two internationally acclaimed soloists. Horn player Felix Klieser was born without arms but has been critically lauded for his skill, interpretation and remarkable physical virtuosity.  He made a stunning BBC Proms debut in 2023, maintains a heavy schedule of international performing and teaching, and currently has a series entitled Round the Horn on BBC Sounds. He is accompanied on Mozart’s Horn Concerto No 4 by Echo Ensemble under the baton of Proms’ favourite Noah Max. Echo will also bring us two popular early Mozart Symphonies and a major event for Proms: the world premiere of AXIOM, a concerto for cello and orchestra composed by Noah in memory of his late uncle, Edward Max. Eminent cellist Robert Max ‒ Noah’s father and Edward’s brother ‒ will perform as soloist in this passionate and evocative family tribute.

In this, the 100th year since his death, the National Youth Chamber Choir will sing Gabriel Fauré’s gentle and hopeful Requiem, which is  one of the world's most beloved and frequently performed choral masterpieces. Soloists will be drawn from within the choir’s talented membership. Other choral and organ pieces chosen from the canon of French music of the late 19th and early 20th centuriescontinue the mood of reflection and beauty.

Director of music at St Jude-on-the-Hill, Nicholas Chalmers, is Principal Conductor of the National Youth Choir and is recognised as one of the leading conductors in the UK today, working with such prominent organisations as the BBC Singers and Nevill Holt Opera. Drew Sellis, who accompanies the concert on the organ, is currently Organ Scholar at St George's Chapel, Windsor and previously Organ Scholar at Jesus College, Cambridge and Choral Scholar at St Jude's.

The National Youth Chamber Choir is a group of outstanding singers aged 18-25 selected from the National Youth Choir, current NYC Fellowship winners, and recent alumni. They meet throughout the year for performances, broadcasts, recording sessions and education events in the UK and overseas. In 2023, they celebrated their 40th Anniversary by performing in the Royal Albert Hall, a performance that was described as a heart-warming celebration of singing.

This evening welcomes the orchestra of the Yehudi Menuhin School. This world-famous institution has been training young musicians since its inception in 1963, and many notable performers have come through its ranks. The ensemble is led tonight by school director Ashley Wass, a winner of the London International Piano Competition and a Naxos recording artist. Mr Wass will feature as soloist in Chopin’sPiano Concerto No 2, which in spite of its number was the first concerto he composed and is a virtuosic work of youthful inspiration set in flight by the emotions of first love. The rest of the programme is devoted to familiar film soundtracks, some specially composed and others co-opted for the purpose. Herrmann scored seven films for Alfred Hitchcock; his Psycho Suite is the most famous, in which he created what he called a ‘black and white sound’. Written for one of the most patriotic films of World War II, Walton’s music for Shakespeare’s Henry V was lauded by Laurence Olivier as ‘the most wonderful score I’ve ever heard on a film’. Mahler’s hauntingly beautiful Adagietto from Symphony No 5 was a soundtrack in A Death in Venice, and a version of Strauss’s highly popular Blue Danube Waltz was used by Stanley Kubrick in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

A heady brew of Irish and American folk music performed with a distinctly English style. The Tommys started by jamming old Dubliners and Lead Belly tunes they’d picked up from their parents’ record collections, staying up ‘til about six in the morning. After realising this was really fun, they decided to try some gigs. Soon they’d gathered enough songs to be able to play around pubs in London. Since then, they have gone from strength to strength and their large fan base shows up for their energetic and entertaining gigs. Come along and tap your feet in a pub atmosphere, complete with beer on tap and dancing!

This evening’s performers are guaranteed to fill St Jude’s with the powerful sound of soul! Experience the magic of Motown with songs by The Temptations, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Jacksons and others. You’ll be swinging in your seats to these great hits of an iconic era. This evening is guaranteed to get the room moving.

Expect silky and soulful vocals from the charismatic Wayne Hernandez, and an incredible groove from his exciting band who always get the audience going with their infectious energy. Wayne has worked with Tina Turner, Tori Amos, Blur, Grover Washington, Roberta Flack, Madonna and Rag’n’Bone Man. He is a long-time member of the London Community Gospel Choir and the Kingdom Choir, and is a prolific recording artist, songwriter and producer. Get Ready, ‘cause here they come!

Everything you would want from the Proms’ Last Night but with the brilliant additional twist of maestro Rainer Hersch. Rainer is one of life’s great positive forces – and also the most wonderful musician. Together with his hand-picked Orkestra, he’ll lead us through the classic ‘Last Night’ repertoire, but in addition you get Rainer and his irrepressible sense of fun. Guaranteed to bring the curtain down in true Proms style. Music will include pieces such as Pomp and Circumstance March No 1; Fantasia on British Sea Songs: Hornpipe; the overture from Marriage of Figaro; Rossini’s Largo al factotum; a John Williams’ medley ... and more, much much more, but be prepared for changes or surprises.  One never knows what to expect!

Gareth Malone OBE is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of East Anglia and Freedom of the City of London in 2010. In 2012 he was made OBE in the Queen's birthday honours for services to music.

Bass-baritone James Oldfield is a Surrey-based singer who has performed as soloist in concert halls around the world, collaborating with major orchestras and conductors. As well as performing an extensive opera and oratorio repertoire, James also composes, arranges, conducts and teaches.  He is a regular collaborator in Rainer Hersch's musical shenanigans.