THE Milton Rooms is offering free entry to all concert-goers for a special performance by a leading youth orchestra on tour from the Netherlands this month.

The Haydn Youth String Orchestra (HYSO) has 35 string-players aged 12 to 19. It was founded nearly 30 years ago to foster the talents of young string musicians. Since then, the HYSO has acquired international recognition and won several contests.

Milton Rooms chairman Judy Cliffe said: “It’s amazing what young, gifted people can achieve and we are delighted they have chosen the Milton Rooms to help showcase their success. We are doubly pleased to be able to give our growing audience of classical music enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the concert free of charge.

"We also hope it will attract younger people and inspire those with an interest in playing music."

The orchestra plays some 25 concerts each season, many on tours abroad, including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, and the United States, and playing alongside professional soloists.

The HYSO is conducted by Jan-Ype Nota, a member of the North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra and a gifted teacher at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.

The programme in Malton, on Thursday, July 21, at 7pm, will include Vivaldi’s concerto in G Minor, Puccini’s Cristantemi, Hindemith’s Trauermusik for viola and string orchestra and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.

To book, phone 01653 696240 or call into the Milton Rooms box office in Malton.