YOUNG people have been inspired to make their own music in a series of projects across Hambleton and Richmondshire.

The School of Rock project has involved about 40 students aged between 11 and 18 working with professional musicians Tiff Mahoney and Alex Cromarty from Connecting Youth Culture (CYC).

They visited Risedale Youth Centre, Snape Methodist Church and Hawes Market House, where they helped students learn and play a range of instruments. The young people then had the opportunity to perform and record together and write their own songs.

Elena Harwood, 13 from Spennithorne who attended the Risedale School of Rock said: “The project gave me new experiences, such as helping me create lyrics with the lead singer. My goals are to be more social and more confident and this project has help me to do that.”

In addition, the Hawes School of Rock group were given the opportunity to travel to the TCR Hub’s recording studio at Barnard Castle to experience what it would feel like to be a professional artist.

Finally, to celebrate their achievements, the group held a concert.

Youth development worker with North Yorkshire Youth, Richie Bastow, who helped deliver the projects said: “All the young people involved were brilliant.

“They had lots of fun making their own music and it was great to see them achieving together, whilst being inspired by the professional musicians who were outstanding”.