THERE has been a growth in the energy and enthusiasm over the past 10 years of Youth Makes Music, say organisers. And this year s event was no exception at the School of Music of the University of Cambridge. The event – organised by the Rotary Club of Roy

THERE has been a growth in the energy and enthusiasm over the past 10 years of Youth Makes Music, say organisers.

And this year's event was no exception at the School of Music of the University of Cambridge.

The event - organised by the Rotary Club of Royston - saw performances from The Meridian School, Royston, Roysia Middle School, Royston, Greneway School, Royston and a choir of 57 youngsters from Barkway, Studlands Rise, Tannery Drift and Therfield schools.

Founder and event organiser Ken Charles said: "We are proud of the achievements of our young musicians over several years.

"This year's performances demonstrate we have more ambitious youngsters who are determined to follow them into the professional world of music," he said.

One highlight of the evening was a Parkinson chat show-style interview with Alison Balsom, the UK Young Classical Performer of the Year.

The former Royston student - and ex-member of the Royston Town Band - had the previous day been in New York, but returned to appear at the event.

In her "interview" she spoke of her music achievements and described playing in some of the world's leading concert halls.

The concert included the combined first schools choir under director Louise Atkins enchanting the audience with numbers such as I'm Gonna Sing and Roller Ghoster.

Roysia School - which included hand chimes in its appearance - performed traditional works such as The Ash Grove and English Country Garden to Oldfield's Ommadown.

The Grenway teaching team of director Hannah Totman, Carol Cardwell, Stewart Debenham and Craig Maddox took the advanced recorders, chamber choir and school orchestra through Star Wars, California Dreamin' and a foot-tapping, hand-clapping version of Oh Happy Days.

One of the encouraging performances of the evening came from the boys of Greneway School signing Boulevard of Love and The Beatles' Here Comes the Sun and the senior students of Meridian with Caravan of Love.

It led Mr Charles to say: "We could be on our way to a male voice choir."

Pam Lambert, who had recently retired from teaching, led the Royston Youth Choir through My Favourite Things and The Lord is My Shepherd.

The performance from Meridian students under Jenny Warburton culminated in a performance of Singin' in the Rain.

The concert ended with a choir of 186 moving the audience with an emotional interpretation of No Wars Will Stop Us Singing.