TALENTED musicians from across the region were brought together for a two-hour performance.

The North Yorkshire Schools' Symphony Orchestra, which selects musicians from the county, as well as Teesside and County Durham, performed before more than 400 people at Ripon Cathedral.

The ensemble, which is made up of 77 young musicians, meets once a year to perform for parents, teachers and music lovers across the North-East.

Preparations begin early in the year with selection for the orchestra following a series of auditions.

The successful musicians were given the music to practise and spent a week together in summer to rehearse for the concert.

David Morgan, head of North Yorkshire education service's instrumental music service, said he was moved by the concert.

He said: "There are times when you can close your eyes and you can't tell the difference between the schools and a professional symphony orchestra.

"They are so young and yet they get up and play out of their skins."