Proms 2013: Last Night conductor Marin Alsop 'shocked there can still be firsts for women' Alsop's speech, delivered near to the end of the night as the audience prepared to sing along to Jerusalem, was received with rousing cheers and flag waving and was praised by BBC commentator Katie Derham as "inspirational." This year's BBC Proms has been hailed by organisers as "record-breaking," with 57 out of the 75 Royal Albert Hall concerts sold out, and 93 per cent average attendance across the season. More than 300,000 people have attended the concerts, with Proms director Roger Wright noting audiences had appeared younger, with an exceptional "quality of listening." As the season came to a close on Saturday night, conductor Marin Alsop told the audience she "felt certain" that Proms founder Sir Henry Wood would "see this evening as a natural progression towards more inclusion in classical music." "Quite a lot has been made of me being the first woman to conduct the Last Night of the Proms," she said. I'm incredibly honoured and proud to have this title, but I have to say I'm still quite shocked that it can be 2013 and there can still be firsts for women. She added: "Here's to the second, third, fourths, fifths, hundredths to come." Leading the audience in a chorus of three cheers "in the name of progress," Alsop also spoke out in favour of keeping music education at the "front and centre" of society. "The power of music cannot be over-estimated," she said. It's what makes us human beings, it's what makes us nations, it's what makes us a great civilisation. We cannot forget that ever, and music and art cannot be pushed to the margins - they have to be front and centre. The American conductor, who supports successful foundations to help disadvantaged young people through music in Baltimore, US, and Sao Paulo, also appeared to take a swipe at Vasily Petrenko, the Russian who was last week quoted as saying orchestras were distracted by a "cute girl on the podium." Paying tribute to her family, Alsop said: "When I was nine years old and wanted to become a conductor - oh, and even last week when people said "girls can't do that" - my parents supported me." She finished: "I want to say to all the young women out there, as I say to all young people: believe in yourselves, follow your passion and never give up, because you will create a future filled with possibility."