ROSS-ON-WYE orchestra conductor Jack Campey, driven by a lifelong passion for film and stage music, is to perform the best music ever written for film and theatre and share it with audiences throughout the country.

Jack, aged 32, founded The Studio Orchestra in 2019 and has chosen Cheltenham as the venue for the first UK concert of its type dedicated entirely to the world of animated film music.

And every year, apart from the pandemic lockdown in 2020, he has staged themed concerts around the country featuring iconic scores from music greats such as John Williams and Hans Zimmer; from mega-hit films such as Star Wars; and from Broadway shows.

And now Jack and his 60-piece orchestra of talented, professional musicians are presenting The Music of Animation at the Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday, September 6, performing unforgettable soundtracks from the studios of Disney, DreamWorks, Pixar and Studio Ghibli in Japan.

From Cinderella in 1950 to How to Train Your Dragon in 2010, iconic film scores will get the full orchestral treatment, supported by special guest Radio 1’s film critic Ali Plumb, who will guide the audience through a programme of 14 film scores that define the history of animated film which will be enhanced by spectacular lighting.

Along the journey are Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Watershio Down, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ratatouille, The Incredibles – and many more.

Jack said: “Animated films have shaped generations with their storytelling, unforgettable characters, and the magic of making us believe in the impossible. Their music has become the soundtrack of childhoods around the world.”

“It’s the first concert of its type in the UK that specifically celebrates animated film music from all the big studios in one glorious show. I am so proud of the orchestra and its unbelievably talented musicians.

“We are all about pushing the boundaries to deliver exciting concerts that will immerse the audience in some of the best music ever written.”

Jack loves to bring his passion for film and stage music home: he was born and brought up in Ross and loves to perform concerts in his home region.

Jack fell in love with film music as a boy hearing his mum’s old vinyl records of Broadway songs.

“I started to dance and flail my arms around – and I’m still flailing my arms around,” he quipped.

Jack plays the trumpet, saxophone, piano, drums and percussion.

In 2018 he travelled to Los Angeles where he researched original score manuscripts, and said: “I was looking at the original scores of Disney’s Snow White with rings of coffee cup stains from the music department all over the place – little did they know at the time that they were adding their mark in history, quite literally.

"I'm deeply committed to performing film music the way it should be heard and that is with a full orchestra. That is how composers originally wanted to hear their music performed live, so we take no shortcuts. We do things the right way – this is Hollywood music after all, so it deserves to be glamorous and splendid.”

Tickets can be obtained via thestudioorchestra.co.uk.