MORE than a thousand young musicians from all over the North-East have battled it out for the chance to perform at the Royal Festival Hall.

The musicians, from 42 schools were competing in the regional Music for Youth contest, at Egglescliffe School, Eaglescliffe, on Teesside.

Many of the performers who took part will go on to play at the Royal Festival Hall, in the summer.

Some groups could also be invited to perform at the Music for Youth Schools Proms Concerts, to be held in November at the Royal Albert Hall.

Music for Youth, part of Europe's largest music festival, aims to provide free access to educational and performance opportunities for all kinds of young musicians.

Egglescliffe school has hosted the regional auditions for a number of years.

This year, performers from Ponteland, in Northumberland, and Ripon, Northallerton, Stokesley and Richmond, in North Yorkshire, took part, alongside those from the Teesside area.

There were full school orchestras, chamber orchestras, brass bands, wind bands, junior choirs and the Tees Valley Youth choir involved. A soul band from the host school also performed.

Keith Hewson, director of music at the school, who organised the event, said: "This organisation was set up ten years ago to help fundraise for the music department and assist by helping the various musicians at the school have the opportunity to perform at venues, including the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall."

Nationwide, about 40,000 young musicians take part in 51 regional events during March.