THE next generation of talented musicians from across the UK and Europe will congregate in Yorkshire for an intense training course before offering a winter warmer of a programme at a venue in Skipton.

The students that sign up for Vacation Chamber Orchestra (VaCO) residential courses, currently based at Cundall Manor, between York and Ripon, are at the pinnacle of their education.

They are selected as the best in their class and will benefit from honing their concert performing skills and learning the tricks of the trade as they prepare for the next stage post college.

Many VaCO Alumni are now playing in orchestras all over the world and many recently performed at this year’s BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

This winter’s programme contains Igor Stravinsky’s one-act ballet ‘Pulcinella’ based on the 18th century play Quatre Polichinelles semblables.

Premiered in Paris 1920 and inspired by the works of Pergolesi, Stravinsly produced one of his wittest neo-classical confections. Another highlight will be clarinetist and

VaCO Alumni, Ruaridh Bakke, performing Gerald Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto.

Amongst other works being performed are Joseph Haydn’s glorious Symphony No.85, the fourth of his six Paris symphonies & Aaron Copland’s Quiet City. Copland’s wrote incidental music for the play of the same title by Irwin Shaw in 1939 which features solo parts for trumpet & cor anglais.

On hand to coach the musicians to perfection will be cellist Tim Lowe (recitalist, chamber musician and guest principal cello the English Chamber Orchestra) and Peter Dykes (associate oboe of the Royal

Scottish National Orchestra and professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland).

Condutor Xen Kelsey said: “The focus is on supporting young people through peer-to-peer learning and from the highest calibre of tutors. It is about team work, mentoring, the best in class who want to go on and apply for some of the best orchestral jobs around.

“After a few days of intense rehearsals we achieve electrifying performances that are the envy of rural North Yorkshire as they match anything in London and the South East.”

The Skipton performance takes place at 7:30pm on Monday, December 30, in Christ Church.