Gwent Music perform at London's Royal Albert Hall at youth proms

Two groups from Gwent Music, comprising performers from Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen, were part of the Music for Youth Proms, which took place at the Royal Albert Hall.

The first group featured 160 musicians from the colourful Isca Linea Symphonia, who took to the stage on Monday, November 13.

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The symphonia, with an age range of six to 19 and featuring a breadth of instruments from strings to harps and percussion, performed a tribute to David Bowie.

Their performance was arranged by Carly Stone, a former student and teacher for Gwent Music, and conducted by Nathan Stone, director of Isca Linea and current string teacher.

One day later, on Tuesday, November 14, the second group – the Gwent Youth Jazz Orchestra – performed Steely Dan’s Black Friday.

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The orchestra,with an older age range of between 15 and 20, attracts back students who have moved on to study jazz at a conservatoire level, playing alongside some younger members.

Emma Archer, the music service manager for Gwent Music said: "We were absolutely thrilled to be invited to perform, particularly as only 3,000 performers out of a total of 40,000 are selected for this honour.

"It’s only a year since we took our biggest group ever to the same event, so it was a real honour to be asked again so soon."

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Ms Archer added that the musical group aims to give people from the region a chance to experience the joy of playing music,despite the issue of reduced funding.

"Music education in Wales is going through some very hard times at the moment, there is very little funding to support instrumental and vocal learning, and so we are having to rely more and more on parental support, and fundraising in order to keep these life changing experiences available to children form all backgrounds," she said.

For details on the group, go to gwentmusic.co.uk.

Alternatively call 01633 210 800 or email gwent.music@newport.gov.uk.

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