CHINEKE is the Igbo word for God as ‘the spirit of creation’: Igbo is the language of the Igbo people, an ethnic group in eastern Nigeria. The Chineke! is a British orchestra, founded in 2015 by the Nigerian-Irish double bass player Chi-chi Nwanoku, to give musicians of colour more classical music performance opportunities. Black, Asian and ethnically diverse musicians fill the majority of desks in this fine orchestra which made its BBC Proms debut in August 2017.

Chineke’s Leeds debut concert reflected the orchestra’s refreshing diversity. The band, conducted by Brandon Keith Brown, opened with the profound Song of the Prophets. Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Daniel Kidane, Shirley Thompson, and Roderick Williams have each composed a brief movement for this ‘Requiem for the Climate’. It is a fusion of western music with evocative instruments and vocals from Nigeria, Kenya and Bangladesh - countries severely affected by climate change.

Western classical music, however, dominated the programme. Ade Williams was the impassioned soloist in the Violin Concerto No 9 of 18th century French composer Joseph Bologne.

The finest of Tchaikovsky’s early symphonies filled the second half. Brandon Keith Brown presided over a sparkling performance of the infrequently played ‘Winter Daydreams’ Symphony No 1 in G minor. The virtuosity of these fabulous young musicians was as evident in the contemplative inner movements as in the thrillingly propelled finale. An appreciative audience clearly in party mood responded with a torrent of bravos, cheers, whistles and yelps of delight. And some people say that classical concerts are too sedate!