THE president of a German Rotary Club will help to judge Darlington and Northallerton Rotary Clubs' young musician competition this month.

Ingbert Bluthner, president of Leipzig Rotary Club, will fly in for the event and will lend one of his company's grand pianos.

Bluthner is a name famous throughout the world for manufacturing pianos, and the company is still managed by the family that founded it 150 years ago.

This is the 12th annual competition organised by the two rotary clubs and it has attracted more than 50 entries from some of the finest young musicians in the region.

The competition takes place on Saturday, November 20, in the Liddiard Theatre, at Polam Hall School, Darlington, with the preliminary rounds starting at 9am.

Each group winner will compete in a concert to establish the overall winner.

Ian Denley, an examiner with the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music, is this year's adjudicator.

Darlington Mayor Councillor Roderick Francis, Hambleton District Council chairman Councillor David Smith, with Herr Bluthner and the two rotary club presidents will present prizes and certificates during the evening.

The concert starts at 7pm. Tickets are £4 for adults and £1 for children, and are available from Darlington and Northallerton Rotarians or at the door on the night.