The Northamptonshire County Youth Orchestra brings together exceptionally talented instrumentalists aged approximately 13 to 18 and has long been one of the most highly regarded youth orchestras in the United Kingdom.

On its tour of the Czech Republic, the orchestra is accompanied by its partner ensemble, the Northamptonshire County String Sinfonia, which specializes in chamber music for string instruments. Together, they will present a program that combines masterpieces of Romantic music, Czech classics, 20th-century music, and famous film scores.

You can look forward to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s dramatic and imaginative overture *Romeo and Juliet*, one of the most compelling musical adaptations of Shakespeare’s story. The program will also feature a popular selection from Dmitri Shostakovich’s Suite for Variety Orchestra, including the famous Waltz No. 2, which has won popularity around the world. Czech music will be represented by the energetic Dance of the Comedians from Bedřich Smetana’s opera The Bartered Bride.

The highlight of the evening will be John Williams’ legendary *Star Wars Suite*. The audience can look forward to iconic melodies such as the *Star Wars* main theme, Princess Leia’s tender theme, the monumental *Imperial March*, and the triumphant closing march from the throne room.

The concert will be conducted by John Bickerdike and Richard Smith—respected British musicians and educators with extensive experience on concert stages and in music education.

You can look forward to an evening full of youthful energy, symphonic grandeur, and unforgettable film scores performed by an orchestra that represents the best of the British musical tradition.

The year 2026 is a special one for the Classical Chorus—the choir is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding. Part of the anniversary celebrations is a concert tour to Prague, during which the choir will present a special program titled *Written in the Stars*.

You can look forward to a musical journey spanning centuries and genres. The program will feature famous excerpts from Vivaldi’s Gloria, a stirring Kyrie based on motifs from Dvořák’s Largo from the New World Symphony, the operatic classic “Toreador Song” from Bizet’s Carmen, and an emotional selection from the legendary musical Les Misérables.

Classical Chorus performs regularly in major concert halls and historic venues throughout Europe. In recent years, the choir has performed in Tuscany, at the Church of La Madeleine in Paris, and at the famous Menin Gate in Bruges, Belgium. Among its achievements are sold-out concerts at London’s Royal Academy of Music and performances at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The musical production is led by Abigail Harris, an experienced conductor, soprano, and educator who is one of the most respected figures on the British choral scene. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she has been working for more than twenty years as a conductor, vocal coach, and instructor. She has received several major awards for her contributions to music education and community music-making.

The Classical Chorus concert will offer a captivating combination of classical music, opera melodies, and musical theater hits performed by a large British choir that captivates audiences with its energy, musicality, and joy of singing together.

Admission is voluntary.

Voluntary admission will be donated to Cesta domů.

Cesta domů operates the Home Hospice in the Capital Region. Prague. It provides counseling services to anyone in the Czech Republic in the care of the terminally ill and dying.