THE York Youth Orchestra will perform their launch concert at York Railway Institute Sports Hall, Queen Street, York, on December 8.

The young musicians, aged 11 to 21, have been in rehearsal since late October under the inspiring direction of Ben Crick, who has selected a 7pm programme featuring Lento by British composer Howard Skempton and Dvorak's glorious 8th Symphony.

The guest soloist for Elgar's Cello Concerto will be international cellist Raphael Wallfisch. At the age of 24, Wallfisch won the Gaspar Cassadó International Cello Competition in Florence, since when he has performed with such orchestras as the London Symphony; London Philharmonic; Philharmonia; BBC Symphony; English Chamber Orchestra; Hallé; City of Birmingham Symphony; Berlin Symphony; Los Angeles Philharmonic and Czech Philharmonic. He has recorded nearly every major work for cello too.

York Press:

York Youth Orchestra director Ben Crick

Next Saturday, Wallfisch will be performing alongside blossoming players from York secondary schools and York College and York St John University music students.

Looking forward to next weekend's debut concert, Tim Brooks, the orchestral manager and director of York Arts Education, says: "This is a great opportunity to celebrate York’s young musical talent and encourage them to play together at the highest level. We're delighted this new venture has got off to a flying start with such professional direction from our conductor and tutors, and we’re excited to be working with one of the world’s great cellists, Raphael Wallfisch, and to be able to attract such international talent to York."

Tickets cost £10, concessions £5, students in full-time education £2, at yorkartseducation.org.uk.