The hunt to find the best young choirs, bands and orchestras for the national School Proms has begun, with more than 40,000 instrumentalists and singers taking part in a series of regional youth music festivals.
The festivals, in 54 regions of the UK, are being run by Music for Youth, a charity that promotes music-making in schools and the wider community.
As well as performing to other groups from their area, young people will get feedback from professional musicians.
At the end of April, invitations will be sent to 300 groups to take part in a national festival at the symphony hall in Birmingham, with a final 30 groups to be selected for the School Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in November.
* www.mfy.org.uk.
