YOUNGSTERS entertained audiences after a summer school with an internationally-renowned conductor.

North Yorkshire Schools' Symphony Orchestra and Wind Band studied for five-and-a-half days at Barnard Castle School under director Simon Wright.

The 79-strong orchestra, comprising musicians aged 11 to 19, played at Ripon cathedral in an annual concert organised by North Yorkshire County Council's music service.

This year, the soloists were clarinetist Chris Harrison, who is also a keen singer and plays the saxophone and piano, and flautist Sarah Funnell. Both are 17 and attend the sixth form college at Stokesley School.

The Wind Band's summer school culminated in a performance at Hambleton Forum, in Northallerton.

The 41-member band of 11 to 19-year-old musicians, tutored by course director John Milgate and his team, shared the platform with the Kings Division Waterloo Band in front of a packed house.

Principal conductor for the evening was Captain Jason Griffiths, musical director of the Waterloo band.

The county's executive member for schools, John Watson, said: "Because of the size of our county, we can't really organise county level ensembles on anything other than a residential basis.

"Players are recruited from a very wide area and each year are helped to raise their performance levels to a new high.

"It's a great experience for the young people.

"By bringing them together for these courses and high-profile concerts, they not only develop as individuals but as an ensemble and the results are breathtaking."