THE Music for Youth Festival series arrives in Newport tomorrow where it will be showcasing more than 1,500 young musicians from across Gwent.

Music for Youth is a national music education charity providing free access to performance and audience opportunities for young musicians across the UK.

The regional festival series is open to any type of music group and standard of playing of musicians aged 21 or under.

Gwent Music is entering more than 75 different groups in the series, including some 1,500 musicians, all of whom have been busy practising over the last few weeks.

Gwent has hosted a regional series for 22 years and until recently it was held at the County Hall Cwmbran. This year the two-day series will be held tomorrow and Sunday at Newport Centre.

“Luckily this year we are being sponsored by the Rotary Club who are contributing toward the hire cost of the Newport Centre,” said Emma Archer, who is part of the senior leadership team at Gwent Music.

A team of Music for Youth mentors will give feedback on all performances and some groups will be invited to the National Festival in Birmingham in July and then to the Schools Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in November.

Alun Williams, manager at Gwent Music, said: “Gwent Music ensembles have been performing to a high standard at this Regional Festival for many years and they have also been successful in the number of invitations gained to the National Festival in July and the Schools Proms.”

Last year, 12 groups were invited to the National Festival, including the Newport Music Centre Senior Wind Band, Isca Linea Harp Ensemble and Tuba Euphoria. School bands from Bassaleg, Caerleon and Croesyceiliog were also invited.

The Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra played at the Schools Proms, Royal Albert Hall, in November 2013.

The Newport Regional Festival will take place in the Riverside Suite and Main Hall tomorrow from 9am until 7pm and in the Main Hall only on Sunday from 9am until 6pm.

Admission for the public will be £3 per day.

Audience space will be allocated on a first come first served basis.