YOUNG musicians from across Darlington will have the opportunity to compose their own piece of music with a professional orchestra.

As part of the Darlington Concert Series, co-produced by Orchestras Live and Darlington Hippodrome, a creative project is being held for young musicians from local Secondary schools who will compose their own piece of music to perform with the Hallé Orchestra at Darlington Hippodrome.

In workshops led by experienced Hallé musicians and Orchestras Live/Spitalfields new trainee music leader Alice Phelps, a short five-minute piece is being devised that combines the participants and Halle musicians as an ensemble.

Hallé musicians and Alice are working with young guitar players at Haughton School in Education Village and Longfield Academy to explore the themes, structure and musical ideas of the Rodrigo Guitar Concerto.

A final workshop will take place on Tuesday, January 7, at Longfield Academy in Darlington before rehearsals in the Hippodrome on Thursday January 9.

The rehearsal will culminate the new piece opening the Halle’s concert at Darlington Hippodrome that evening, performed by the young musicians alongside those from the Hallé and soloist Craig Ogden.

The young people will be given free tickets to attend the rest of the concert, so they have the opportunity to experience the full orchestra perform and hear the music used as the inspiration for the project performed live by international guitarist Craig Ogden.

The programme also includes Albeniz’s seductive Asturias, De Falla’s Suite No.1 from The Three-Cornered Hat, Glinka’s colourful Jota Aragonesa and Granados’s Spanish Dance No.5, a work filled with daring and panache.

The Hallé Orchestra will perform their drama-filled performance at Darlington Hippodrome at 7.30pm on Thursday January 9.

For more information about the Hallé Orchestra concert night, and how to buy tickets, visit darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk