PREVIOUS Musicians of the Year from the Ripon area will star in a spring concert to highlight the competition.

The concert on May 9 at St John’s church, Sharow, will allow some of the area’s top young musicians to show their skills before the event in the autumn. Entry to the concert is £5.00 for adults ,under 18’s free.

The final will take place on November 20 and 21 in Holy Trinity Church in Ripon. It’s open to young people who live, are at school or have private music lessons within 15 miles of Ripon. The adjudicator will be Dr George Kennaway, Visiting Research Fellow Leeds School of Music. Entry details will be available at the concert.

David Winpenny, who founded the event in 2001 said: ‘This is the first time we have held a Spring Concert, and we see it as an ideal opportunity for a wider audience to hear the quality of music making that our young people offer , from beginners to advanced performers. We send some of our prize-winners on to the national Rotary Young Musician rounds, and one of last year’s winners, cellist Ben Messenger, will be taking part in the national final next month.’

Tickets are available from The Little Ripon Bookshop, 13 Westgate, and Alan's Gallery, 19, Kirkgate, for more information go to www.rymy.co.uk.