The premiere of the ‘Pompey Overture’ – a short piece of music composed by Hugh Carpenter, conductor of the Portsmouth Philharmonic Orchestra – will take place at the 125th anniversary concert on Sunday.
Concert go-ers are also being encouraged to wear Pompey shirts or scarves at the event, which starts at 3pm, while ambassador Alan Knight MBE will be attending. A shirt, signed by this season’s squad, will also be up for grabs in a raffle.
Tickets for the concert at the Church of the Resurrection in Drayton, which is in aid of Pompey in the Community, are selling fast and pre-booking is advised.
As well as the special overture, the orchestra will be playing Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite No 2 and Schubert's fifth symphony in B♭ Major.
Orchestra chair Di Lloyd, who also plays the cello, said: “The ‘Pompey Overture’ is a catchy and jaunty piece of music with a memorable melody, as well as some familiar Pompey fan refrains.
"The ‘Pompey Overture’ is a catchy and jaunty piece of music with a memorable melody."
“I’ve been a fan myself for more than 40 years and I think that it captures the spirit of the club perfectly.
“Many of the orchestra members and supporters are Pompey fans themselves, so it is a huge honour and thrill to be doing this concert to celebrate the club's anniversary. We would love it if audience members came in Pompey shirts and scarves.”
Colin Farmery, who chairs the 125th steering committee, said: “One of the remits we were given was to reach out to the arts community in Portsmouth to help celebrate the club's anniversary, so I was delighted when the orchestra agreed to perform this concert, which will make money for a cause close to the club and every Pompey fan’s heart.
“I'm really looking forward to hearing the ‘Pompey Overture’. I've never heard of a professional football club having one composed in its honour before, so it could be we are unique.”
Tickets, priced £10, are available from the orchestra’s ticket partner Skiddle (booking fee applies) or on the door on the day. Accompanied children are free.
More details are available here at the orchestra’s website. Since it was founded in 2009, the orchestra has raised more than £20,000 for local charities.