Last night’s grand final of Maestro live on BBC Two saw Sue Perkins triumph in the public vote and win the right to take to the stage at BBC Proms In The Park on Saturday to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra and soloist Lesley Garrett in front of an audience of 30,000 happy revellers.

The once-in-a-lifetime chance to conduct the orchestra at the event in Hyde Park, London will be broadcast live on BBC Two and BBC Radio 2 as part of the Last Night Of The Proms celebrations.

Immediately after winning, Sue Perkins said: “Winning has been an extraordinary and exhilarating experience, so thank you.” Read more & comment »

Clive Anderson hosts Maestro’s first studio challenge as the seven remaining famous amateurs with a passion for classical music do battle with their batons, conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra.

The students step up to the podium to conduct music for film and television in front of the panel of expert judges: Sir Roger Norrington (conductor of this year’s Last Night Of The Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall), composer and cellist Zoë Martlew, conductor Simone Young and double bassist Dominic Seldi. Read more & comment »

Eight famous amateurs with a passion for classical music will do battle this summer for the chance to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra in front of a live audience of 30,000 in BBC Two’s Maestro.

The show sees a diverse range of personalities – including hiphop star Goldie, Blur bassist Alex James and actress Jane Asher – competing to perform at BBC Proms In The Park, held in London’s Hyde Park, as part of the BBC Proms’ world-famous Last Night celebrations on 13 September 2008.

Others striving to command the respect of one of the country’s leading orchestras include newsreader Katie Derham, broadcaster Peter Snow, actor David Soul, comedian Sue Perkins and actor and comedian Bradley Walsh. Read more & comment »