TALENTED young musicians delighted a packed Alveston audience.

The South Cotswold Youth Orchestra performed classical music at St Helen’s on Friday, March 14.

The ensemble gives young musicians across South Gloucestershire and Bristol access to music-making at the highest level.

Their concert opened with Mozart’s Prague Symphony, which has the longest first movement of any symphony in the 18th century.

Vice-chairman Dave Whitfield said the ensemble handled the complex symphony admirably.

“The last movement is another tour de force, with the strings and wind playing independently, with the music moving through a variety of keys,” he said. “It is a testament to the ability of these players that they kept their concentration, and their cool, throughout the whole performance.”

The orchestra leader then performed the second movement of the Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 in Bb on the piano, before the concert was closed with a performance of Britten's Soirees Musicales.

Mr Whitfield added: “The performance itself was technically adept. There were brilliant solos from our clarinet, oboe, trumpet and flute principals, as well as a great sound and brilliance from our strings and percussion.

“A real treat to hear a youth orchestra play so well.”