* We would like to point out that the piece of music performed in the above video is not the Royal Wedding symphony mentioned below.


A MUSICAL director from York has written music for the Royal Wedding.

Bev Jones, 70, of Temple Lane in Copmanthorpe, decided to compose a symphony for the forthcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

He sent a CD copy to Buckingham Palace and to Prince William and Kate Middleton and received a reply saying they had listened to it and they were “thrilled to receive such a wonderful composition”.

Last year, Bev announced his retirement from the York stage with 499 shows to his name, and he has been recovering from a severe bout of Hepatitis A, but he said composing the symphony has given him a new focus.


Listen to two tracks from the Royal Wedding Orchestral Suite:

The Royal Procession:

The Gala Reception Ball:

He said: “We got a letter back from them within a week and they said they’d listened to it and unfortunately the music had already been chosen for the day, but the very fact they took time to listen to it and reply was really touching.

“I have been in music all my life and after my illness I just thought I couldn’t do it any more, but I got the all-clear and writing this piece, my interest has been renewed and it’s given me the impetus to carry on.”

This is not the first time Bev has written music for the Royal family. In 2006 he wrote The Royal Ascot Suite for the Queen to commemorate the prestigious race meeting being in York.

On that occasion the Queen wrote back within a week saying that although her timetable for her visit was fully booked, if Bev was ever able to have the music recorded, she would be pleased to receive a copy so that she could hear it for herself.


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Symphonic gift

WILLS and Kate’s wedding present list would be interesting to see. After all, what do you give the couple who have everything? Well, York composer Bev Jones came up with a novel gift, a symphony for their forthcoming wedding.

Sadly, his offering is not going to make the play list, but the royal couple did listen to Bev’s CD and say they were “thrilled to receive such a wonderful composition”. Bev hasn’t been too well of late, but he says the regal reply has given him a fresh impetus to carry on.

There is much to be gloomy about, what with the state of the economy and trouble at home and abroad. But the royal wedding is putting a little ray of sunshine into many people’s lives. People like Bev Jones. Let’s all enjoy the moment.

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