HUNDREDS of Gwent children and young people took part in a musical showcase at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall.

Gwent Music Support Service annual summer event on Monday night featured 800 youngsters, ranging from infants school age to 21.

The July 4 concert included pieces marking the USA’s Independence Day, and was themed around the service’s aim to provide “music for all”.

Children from Newport’s Pillgwenlly, Eveswell and Malpas Park Primary Schools, accompanied by the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Ensemble, opened with a spirited Japanese taiko drumming version of Aaron Copland’s Fanfare For The Common Man.

The 75 youngsters of Monmouthshire Infant String Project played scaled-down cellos and violins.

There were assured performances by Greater Gwent Youth Choir, Greater Gwent Youth Symphonic Winds and traditional Welsh dance from Blaenau Gwent Cwricwlwm Cymreig Project, with pupils from St Mary’s Church In Wales Primary, Brynmawr.

The Greater Gwent Project, under the baton of Peter James, gave an energetic performance of This Is Our Land, a piece for instruments and voices inspired by the landscape of Wales and written by Chris Petrie and Francesca Kay. Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band delighted the audience of parents, families and dignitaries with works like John Williams’ Born On The Fourth Of July, with a beautiful cornet solo by Lewis West.

Torfaen Brass Project, featuring pupils from Victoria, Pontnewynydd and Hillside Primaries, performed Love Me Tender and Rock Around The Clock, and the Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra earned a standing ovation with their powerful performance of David Arnold’s theme for the film Independence Day.

The music service, run by Newport council in collaboration with Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen councils, teaches 11,000 students a week.

It is also taking more than 800 students to the National Festival Of Music For Youth in Birmingham on Saturday.

Adults will get chance to make music

THE service is poised to bring music sessions to adults in September. The showcase crowd was told that there are plans for a community orchestra, wind ensemble and big band, and adult taiko drumming sessions.

It has already set up ‘jampod’ sessions at Duffryn High, where adult musicians can perform rock and get tuition in September. For more information in the coming months log onto www.gwentmusic.net