;

22nd July 2002

Young musicians are tuning up for their own contribution to mark the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen. A week of intensive rehearsals, trips and other activities is on the agenda for the 60 young players, all members of either The Scout Association or Girlguiding UK, who are gathering for this year's National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra course.

The six-day course is bringing together members aged between 13 and 25 from as far afield as Cornwall to Essex to Cumbria, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The event is being held at Leighton Park School in Reading from Sunday 28 July until Monday 5 August 2002.

And the young players' combined talents will build into a crescendo for two concerts. The first is to be performed at the host venue on Friday 2 August with another scheduled on Saturday 3 August at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Both concerts commence at 7.30pm.

Music to be aired will include William Walton's Crown Imperial to mark his Centenary in this Golden Jubilee Year, Arnold's 2nd Symphony, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance No 4, Bizet's Carmen as well as works by Chabrier.

Derek Jackson, the Organiser and Scouter-in-charge from Berkshire, said: "The music chosen will reflect the occasion of the Golden Jubilee and will be our tribute to Her Majesty's 50 years as Queen."

The concerts will be attended by the Chief Scout W G Purdy CBE, local civic dignitaries, parents and friends as well as the general public.

For tickets, priced £6 and £8 for Friday and Saturday's concerts respectively, call The Scout Association Information Centre on 0845 300 1818 (charged at local call rate).