Sir Paul up for classical Brit

Rock and pop star Sir Paul has diversified into classical music

Sir Paul McCartney has joined Charlotte Church in the nominations for the first Classical Brit awards. The former Beatle's Working Classical album is on a shortlist of 10 for the orchestral album of the year in the awards, to be held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 6 May.

The new ceremony is designed to mark the recent success of classical music, and to give more recognition to artists in the genre.

Although he is best known for his rock and pop works, Sir Paul McCartney has diversified in recent years with classical works such as Standing Stone and Liverpool Oratorio.

Charlotte Church is one of the UK's top earners

Working Classical has two other nominations, with conductors Andrea Quinn and Lawrence Foster shortlisted in the female and male artist of the year categories.

Charlotte Church, whose family sacked her manager earlier this year, is nominated for young British classical performer and female artist of the year on the strength of her self-titled second album.

Last weekend the 14-year-old from Cardiff was said to be worth £10m in a survey conducted by a Sunday newspaper.

Elsewhere on the list, Sir Paul's friend John Taverner, who began his career on the Beatles Apple label in the 1960s, finds his work mentioned twice.

Nigel Kennedy also figures

Cellist Maria Kliegal's interpretation of Taverner's The Protecting Viel and soprano Patricia Rozario's work on Eternity Sunrise earn them nominations in the female category.

Others nominated for Classical Brits include violinist Nigel Kennedy, composer Williams and saxophonist Jan Garbarek.

Kennedy and Church will also perform at the ceremony which will be held at London's Royal Albert Hall and broadcast on ITV a fortnight later.