A musical extravaganza fit for a king will overtake the Old Courthouse later this week as three local ensembles stage a concert of royal proportions and cool riffs.

"The idea is to give the effect of being in the king's court," said Rob Hogeveen, a performer in two of the ensembles.

He said the king's court was traditionally a venue where musicians of old desired to be play and be heard, so the theme is appropriate.

The Chamber Musicians of Kamloops and the City present King's Court Live Thursday night at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation to the Boogie the Bridge Cultural Fund.

Hogeveen said the ensembles — Trio Con Brio, The Court Jesters and Polished Brass — will perform an eclectic collection of courtly classics ranging from the Renaissance to present day.

Included in the program are classical composers like Giovanni Gabrieli and Arcangelo Corelli as well as modern favourites Scott Joplin, Henry Mancini and George Gershwin.

Hogeveen plays alongside his wife, Cindy, Brent Thibault and Don Bennett in the Polished Brass Quartet as well as Trio Con Brio with Cindy and Jacquie Shinkewski.

The Court Jesters include Rod Simmons, Bennett and Cindy, all on the trombone.

Each group will play in turn, with the concert building to a big finish, said Hogeveen.

"We're wanting to have one piece with all of us playing at the end," he said, adding it will be a big, fanfare performance.

The players will dress in period costumes, provided by Pandora's Box, for the Renaissance portion of the show. Robin Suddaby of the chamber's board of directors said more casual attire will be worn for the modern music.

She said the intention is to provide a mix of compositions to appeal to the classical music fan while attracting younger listeners with Gershwin and Mancini.

There will even be music from the movies, with Mancini's theme from the Pink Panther making an appearance, said Suddaby.

"I think it's important to show the two sides of brass," she said.

For more information go online to chambermusiciansofkamloops.org.