THE ‘wonderful’ Westmorland’s first orchestral blast of its 66th season has newly appointed musical director Richard Howarth on the podium.

The concert at Kendal’s Westmorland Hall will be Richard’s first in the role of the Westmorland Orchestra’s music director and conductor.

Well-known in the region’s music circles as leader of the Manchester Camerata, Richard has a distinguished career as a violinist already under his musical belt, as well as leading and directing other orchestras.

Meanwhile, the Westmorland’s popular leader of 22 years, John Upson, will share the WO stage for the first time with his youngest daughter Bridget Mermikides.

Guitar playing Bridget has performed as a soloist and ensemble player for many years and enjoys a busy life in London as teacher and performer. As well as classical guitarist she also plays electric guitar, and in 2003 won a national blues guitar competition, which awarded her a scholarship to study at Los Angeles music academy. Bridget plays regularly in a number of bands, and performed with the Rogue Dolls at Glastonbury in 2008.

However, for the WO gig she will be playing Rodrigo’s famous Concierto de Aranjuez, or ‘Orange Juice’ as it was dubbed by the brass band players in the film Brassed Off.

With its haunting slow movement, and a theme which has been recorded and arranged countless times by many performers including trumpeter Miles Davis, the concerto has always been popular with audiences. The Spanish composer Rodrigo, whose life spanned the 20th Century, was blind from the age of three, but wrote no less than 13 concertos, six of which were for guitar and orchestra.

The concert opens with Borodin’s exciting Overture, Prince Igor.

Interestingly, for Borodin composition was just a hobby, as he was a distinguished chemist and Professor in St Petersburg. Some of his tunes were turned into the Broadway musical, Kismet.

The second half of the concert will feature the Second Symphony of Sibelius.

* The Westmorland Orchestra performance is at Kendal’s Westmorland Hall Saturday, December 4 (7.30pm). Box office 01539-729702.