Quantity surveyor Michael Luck may lack musical skills himself, but he's confident that his new classical orchestra will hit the right note, he tells Steve Pratt.

AN accident that prevents him from working was the spur for quantity surveyor Michael Luck to attempt to fulfil his ambition to form his own classical orchestra.

"I've wanted to run an orchestra since I was 20. The accident two-and-a-half years ago gave me the opportunity to look at various options and I found that in York, there was no professional orchestra," he explains.

There is now, thanks to his endeavours. The York Philharmonic Orchestra debuts at the Grand Opera House in December with a charity, black tie, champagne event.

Luck is a relative newcomer to the area, having moved to Yorkshire three years ago. He was previously involved in the South, in the Reigate and Dorking area of Surrey, with the National Trust and several amateur operatic companies. His initial connection was as a singer, and then he worked on the administration side.

"York is a city with so much culture but had no fully professional orchestra," he says.

"There are an awful lot of professional musicians teaching, and occasionally playing, from York or who are York-based. Many have been part of the big orchestras in London. I used various contacts to find them, and went through friends and the Minister School. They have to earn their living from music to be classed as professional. Most are players as opposed to teachers."

Luck has recruited 55 players for the York orchestra. The principal conductor is Robin Stapleton, whom he has known since he was 16.

"I watched him go through the Royal Academy of Music opera school to the day I saw him perform his final piece with Kiri Te Kanawa. I was a student myself at the time and decided I would get this orchestra going one day," he says.

Luck's involvement will be behind the scenes. As far as music goes, he says: "I know what I like but can't read a note of music". His four children are more accomplished, with the Luck family repertoire of instruments including piano, French horn, sax, trumpet and flute - a mini-orchestra all of their own.

York Philharmonic's opening concert will feature soprano, Susan Bullock, and tenor, Rhys Meirion, in an event that aims to raise funds for listed building refurbishment for St Michael-le-Belfrey Church, in York.

The original plan to have an outdoor concert had to be abandoned because of licensing problems. Most cities have a big concert hall but York lacks that. Those venues that do exist are too small, Luck feels.

He says the orchestra will be self-financing, although most city orchestras are funded by local authorities and councils. He's planning to have at least three concerts during 2004, including one project which could be a three-day event.

"I hope that from this first concert, I will get enough interest from people who want to be involved, and then we'll form a committee to run the orchestra," says Luck, who has run his own quantity surveying business since 1974.

He's aware that big orchestras have had tough financial times in the past, but points out that high-power management has helped make them successful again.

"An orchestra can be used to raise money for worthy charities - and that's where we're coming from," he says.

* York Philharmonic Orchestra inaugural concert is at the Grand Opera House on December 6. Tickets are £60 premium and £45 standard. Box office: 0870 606 3595.

Published: 29/11/2003