MORE than 600 young musicians were taking part in the Gwent Music Support Service’s Christmas Extravaganza at the Newport Centre last night.

It was the 27th consecutive year the concert has been held, which was organised with the Rotary Club of St Woolos and involved 10 different orchestras, bands and ensembles.

The audience was welcomed to the concert by young brass players, who played Christmas carols in the foyer of the centre.

The Isca Linea Symphonia finished the concert with an arrangement of the soundtrack from the James Bond film Skyfall by Daniel Bickerton, who used to work for the support service.

And they were joined by players from the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Ensemble.

Alan Grey, of the Rotary Club of St Woolos, said, it had helped the music support service since the concerts started.

He said: “Music is one of the areas that really builds up a new skill for young people, provides entertainment and provides money for charity, so it’s a perfect fit for the Rotary Club.”

Other groups who played were the Newport Music Centre Senior Wind Symphonia, the Newport Music Centre Guitar Ensemble and the Greater Gwent Schools Brass Band, alongside Isca Linea Harp Ensemble, Newport Music Centre Celtic Ensemble, Newport Music Centre Junior Wind Band, Newport Music Centre Intermediate Wind Band and the Newport City School Choir also performed.

The Newport City Schools Choir was composed of choirs from Caerleon Endowed Junior School, Marshfield Primary School, Eveswell Primary School and Glasllwch Primary School.

And the music service manager, Alun Williams, told the Argus this week he is hopeful there will be a summer showcase, held at St David’s Hall in Cardiff, in July 2014.

The concert was cancelled this year because of a staff restructure in the service after Newport City Council withdrew its funding.

And a number of the music support service’s ensembles will be playing at the Abergavenny Christmas Food Festival on Sunday.

A string quartet will play on the balcony of St Mary’s Priory Church, Abergavenny, at 11.30am.

And the Greater Gwent Youth Choir and Greater Gwent Youth Strings will perform at another concert, A Christmas Celebration, at St Mary’s Priory Church, at 4pm. Entry by programme is £5.