London 2012: Devon and Cornwall musicians in festival

Seth Lakeman will showcase some of his work at a concert to start the weekend's events off

Musicians in Devon and Cornwall are preparing to take part in Sound of the South West.

The event is part of the Music Nation event on 3 and 4 March, a nation-wide countdown to the London 2012 Festival.

Seth Lakeman, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the 200-strong Devon and Cornwall Family Orchestras and Choruses will perform at the Plymouth Pavilions.

Sound of the South West will take place on 4 March involving groups and choirs performing from "sunrise to sunset".

The weekend of live music will count down to the London 2012 Festival which concludes the Cultural Olympiad and involves 1,000 performances and events across the country.

In Devon, Seth Lakeman will work with Oscar-winning composer Anne Dudley to perform a new take on some of his tracks and the Devon and Cornwall Family Orchestras and Choruses will perform a specially commissioned piece by Tim Steiner.

Sound of the South West will follow with a day-long event on Sunday 4 March.

It will start in Tavistock with a peal of church bells before performances take place around the region.

The day's events include musicians playing aboard the Boddinnick Ferry to serenade pedestrians on the banks of the River Fowey and a concert in Carnglaze Caverns.

The BBC Family Orchestras and Choruses will perform a specially commissioned piece

The BBC Concert Orchestra said its challenge was to "create a day-long, region-wide concert, a musical snapshot of Devon and Cornwall where everyone has the chance to showcase what's happening in their area."

Tim Davie, Director of BBC Audio & Music, said about the Music Nation event: "It will showcase the hugely important role that orchestra, choirs and venues play in communities and create an amazing weekend of fantastic live music."

Applications to take part in Sound of the South West are still being accepted via the BBC Concert Orchestra website.