SCARBOROUGH Symphony Orchestra’s new season features a range of works with acclaimed solo performers, plus one of this year’s BBC Young Musician finalists.

The programme of four concerts also highlights exhilarating film music by Shostakovich, one of Beethoven’s most joyous symphonies, favourite works by Britten and Vaughan Williams and masterpieces from Smetana and Brahms.

“Each of our concerts will offer the audience both familiar pieces to enjoy and hidden gems to surprise,” said conductor Shaun Matthew, now in his 12th year with the orchestra.

“And as well as the variety of music, our range of soloists will certainly delight the audience.”

Kicking off the season is Richard Harwood, a masterful cellist, who made his Radio 3 debut at the age of 13. He will be playing Barber’s “Concerto for Cello and Orchestra” on November 26.

Another young star in the making, 18-year-old Cumbrian saxophonist Jess Gillam joins the Orchestra fresh from her success in winning the woodwind section and reaching the overall final three of this year’s BBC Young Musician competition. She will be playing David Heath’s “Celtic Concerto” on February 11.

Trumpeter Niall McEwen, well-known across the north of England for his solo work with orchestras and music societies, plays the exciting trumpet concerto by John Carmichael on May 6 and soprano Gaynor Morgan ends the orchestra’s season on July 15 with Berlioz’s dramatic cantata “Herminie”.

The Scarborough Symphony Orchestra is now regularly attracting audiences about 300-strong at the Queen Street Methodist Hall and is reminding audiences to arrive early, particularly as this season’s concerts will all begin 15 minutes earlier, at 7.15pm, to ease the rush for late transport home.

For more information, go to scarborough-orchestra.co.uk