THE Ulster Orchestra is celebrating 50 years as Northern Ireland's symphony orchestra and will mark its golden anniversary with 50 pop-up performances around Belfast.
Founded in 1966, the Orchestra first performed the bright and optimistic sound of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro to a captive audience in Belfast City Hall and since then has been at the forefront of musical life in the north.
The band of professional, full-time musicians have brought the world's finest artists to Northern Ireland and have toured the world performing classical music at the highest standard.
To mark the landmark anniversary, the orchestra will treat passers-by in Belfast to a sample of their music on September 28 with musicians striking up a chord at a number of different locations including Belfast City Airport, Europa Bus Station and Titanic Belfast.
The musicians will be scattered throughout the city as they attempt a record-breaking 50 performances, but will come together in their entirety at 1pm at Victoria Square Shopping Centre and again at 6.30pm in St Anne's Cathedral and will be joined by the Belfast Philharmonic Choir.
All events throughout the day are free and open to the public.
Richard Wigley, Ulster Orchestra managing director, said; "We are pulling out all the stops to make our 50th birthday season a striking musical celebration for the people of Northern Ireland.
"The 50 locations of the pop-up performances cover a wide spread of locations and communities across Belfast, which will mark the occasion as one of the most memorable in the history of the orchestra."
