GALLERY: Young musicians spread Christmas cheer

ROTHERHAM Minster resonated to the sound of Christmas song as young and old gathered to welcome the festive season.

The historic church played host to three concerts on successive nights — all organised by the Rotherham Music Service and attracting an audience of all ages.

Scores of talented youngsters aged from seven to 18 performed in the Thursday, Friday and Saturday night shows as part of the Junior and Intermediate Guitar Ensembles, the Rotherham Schools Brass Band, the Junior Strings, the Sinfonia Strings, the joint bands of the Wickersley Festival Band and Beginner Concert Band, the Chantry Band, the Rotherham Schools Concert Band and the Rotherham Youth Orchestra.

Two guest choirs, one from Bramley Sunnyside Junior School, and the Grizzly Bear'ds-singing in Ursa Major also joined in with the Saturday concert.

As well as Christmas favourites, the musical programmes included arrangements of well-known classical melodies as well as popular film, television and show tunes.

Rotherham Music Service groups are also playing a free mini-concert at the Café in Riverside House at 6.15pm on Thursday.