Taxi ride into past for musicians

Three young percussionists Lottie Dodd, 16, Laura Bradford, 15, and Sarah Penny, 15, get in practice to reproduce the sounds which inspired a passage in George Gershwin's An American in Paris – under the watchful eye of Andrew Penny, musical director of Hull Philharmonic Orchestra.

York-based enthusiast Mick Popka bought his Citron Traction Avant – the vehicle of choice for French taxi drivers in the 30s and 40s – to the city to promote Hull Philharmonic Orchestra's programme of American music for a City Hall concert on May 8.

Music on the night will include Gershwin's work, first performed in 1928 and partly inspired by the sound of taxi horns in the French capital, and Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

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Organisers are hoping for a full house with profits from the concert, which also includes the music of Samuel Barber and Aaron Copland, being donated to the Lord Mayor of Hull's charity appeal fund, in aid of Cash for Kids.

Mr Penny said: "We are grateful to Mr Popka for taking the time to support what will be a rousing finale to our 2009-10 season."

Picture: Terry Carrott

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