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Stars from the worlds of sport and music will get together for the first time in Glasgow next March for a very special ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Music Nation concert that brings the Cultural Olympics under starter's orders in Scotland.

One of a select group of "countdown" events for the finale of the Cultural Olympiad, Music Nation is a key part of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Cultural Olympiad programming which culminates in the London 2012 Festival. An unprecedented collaboration of the UK orchestral sector, Music Nation will see over 25,000 participants taking part in performances and events right across UK.

Celebrated Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti will join the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scottish Symphony Orchestra and its world-renowned conductor Donald Runnicles at the Clyde Auditorium on 3 March for a night combining stunning sporting musical scores with inspirational tales from some of Scotland's top sports stars. The Glasgow concert aims to celebrate the uplifting power of classical music and sporting prowess by bringing together world class performers and the best of the country's young musicians and singers.

Performing alongside the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ SSO, Donald Runnicles and Nicola Benedetti will be the National Youth Choir of Scotland, members of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, students from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and young people from Big Noise, the El Sistema inspired-project based in Stirling's Raploch Estate.

Celebrating sport through music, the concert will include John Williams' Olympic Fanfare, specially composed for the Los Angeles Olympics, the world premiere of a newly commissioned fanfare from acclaimed Scottish composer James MacMillan, and Ravel's Bolero, forever associated with Torvill and Dean's Olympic triumph in 1984. Throughout the evening, Scottish Olympic stars past and present will talk about the music that inspired their own sporting success.

Among the other Music Nation events in Scotland, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will be resident in the Shetland Islands for five days hosting concerts, participative performances and community events. Built primarily around classical music, Music Nation will also include jazz, folk and world music.

Ken MacQuarrie, Director of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland, said: "We are delighted to be a major part of Music Nation and the Cultural Olympiad. By bringing so many inspirational organisations together, this extraordinary venture reveals the true strength of our vibrant artistic community."

Tim Davie, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Director Audio & Music, says: "The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is very proud to have brought together this esteemed group of partners to create Music Nation, in a first for the UK orchestral sector. It will showcase the hugely important role that orchestras and venues play in communities and create an amazing weekend of fantastic live music. Music Nation, combined with the recently announced Radio 1 Hackney Weekend, the 2012 Proms season and our support for New Music 2012 demonstrates the extent of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s support for live music around the UK."

Over 65,000 tickets will be available for the free and paid-for events across the UK. For full details on all the events in Music Nation, please visit . Further details of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Cultural Olympiad programmes and events will be announced later in the year.

DL/SD3