YOUNG musicians from the West of England Youth Orchestra and music club Superstrings will come together to perform a world premiere of a new violin concerto at Wiltshire Music Centre on Friday and Saturday August 25 and 26.

The massed orchestra of children and young people aged five to 21 will perform the new piece Forest Dances, written especially for them by composer Jeff Moore, alongside leading British violinist Simon Blendis. Up to 123 young musicians are due to take part in the concerts.

The new piece was jointly commissioned by Wiltshire Music Centre and Superstrings and supported through donations and a gift from the PRS for Music Foundation.

Maud Saint-Sardos, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Music Centre, said: “This is a special collaboration between two musical organisations in Wiltshire who are both committed to supporting young people’s music-making and musical learning.

“The West of England Youth Orchestra (formerly the Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Orchestra) has gone from strength to strength since we took over running it in 2015 as part of our Creative Learning Programme across Wiltshire.

“We are so very grateful to everyone who has supported the orchestra and this commission, enabling us to provide such an exciting experience for the children and young people taking part.”

Jeff Moore said, “The experience of writing for these wonderful groups of young musicians has changed the way I think about music as well as what it means to be a composer.

“Like many of my pieces, the initial inspiration came from my love of walking, folk tales and poetry. Forests and woodlands have a mystery and atmosphere of their own, and it’s hardly surprising that the forests of folklore are full of magical and often dark happenings.”

Wiltshire Music Centre also looks forward to the premiere of a newly-commissioned festive piece by jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock on Saturday, December 9, as part of a community-inspired concert to launch the Centre’s 20th Anniversary celebrations.

The show will be led by Mr Simcock, the Centre’s Artist in Residence, and will feature both professional and local musicians as well as members of the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra.

To hear the world premiere performances, please book tickets at wiltshiremusic.org.uk or call 01225 860 100.