TALENTED young musicians from the Tees Valley and South Durham area will soon be able to take advantage of a rare opportunity.

A youth orchestra for players under the age of 19 and of Grade six or equivalent standard is being launched in Darlington.

The orchestra will rehearse on Sunday afternoons from January 2004, and auditions for strings, woodwind, French Horn, trumpets and kettledrums.

On a term-by-term basis the orchestra will change conductors but it will initially be taken by Chris Griffiths, who plays french horn for the Northern Sinfonia.

There will also be opportunities to get involved in ensemble playing and workshops with professional musicians.

Orchestra manager Jacqui Inglis, a flute teacher in Darlington, said: "This is a great opportunity for advanced young musicians from Darlington, North Yorkshire and County Durham to work together with professional orchestral musicians."

Published: 03/11/2003