HUNDREDS of the borough’s young musicians will have performed alongside some of the country’s finest instrumentalists during special concerts this weekend.

More than 400 youngsters have so far joined musicians from the from the BBC Concert Orchestra and The Birmingham Conservatoire in two concerts, organised and hosted by Dudley Council’s Dudley Performing Arts (DPA).

Tonight (Monday, July 4), the group will be joined by renowned cellist and principal of the Birmingham Conservatoire, Julian Lloyd Webber, who will open the ‘DPA Inspire’ concert at Dudley Town Hall at 7pm.

Tickets for tonight’s performance, costing £7, are now only available in cash payments on the door from 6.15pm.

The group’s first concert, which took place yesterday (July 3), was performed by children who have been learning to play an instrument for less than a year, while the second by young musicians who are performing at grade two or above, alongside musicians from Dudley Performing Arts Youth Orchestra.

Both performances are based on the BBC 10 pieces project, which is designed to promote classical music to young people.

Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Dudley Performing Arts is dedicated to working with children from across the borough to inspire a love of music that will last a lifetime.

“These special performances give our young musicians the opportunity to perform with some of the finest instrumentalists in the country.”

For more information about Dudley Performing Arts, which receives funding from Arts Council England to subsidise tuition and public events, visit www.dudley.gov.uk/dpa