Two of the county's flagship young music groups are performing a special concert this weekend.

Essex Youth Orchestra and Essex Youth Choir will be performing in Chelmsford Cathedral raising funds for the Chelmer Bridge Rotary Club.

In a packed programme of well known tunes, the orchestra will be performing Prokofiev’s The Montagues and Capulets from Romeo & Juliet Suite No 2, today used as the theme tune to BBC 1’s The Apprentice, conducted by Robin Browning.

Excerpts from the other two Romeo & Juliet Suites will also be played. The orchestra will also accompany the Essex Youth Choir in John Rutter’s Gloria. Written in 1974, the Gloria offsets two outer movements of uncontainable joy against a more reflective central section.

Following a pre-Christmas two-day holiday course, this annual concert is a great success and the young musicians always perform to the Cathedral full of families, friends and the general public while raising funds for charity.

Beverley Heard from Essex County Council’s Music Services says: "Our annual concert in the glorious acoustics of Chelmsford Cathedral offers the young musicians the chance to perform and presents an opportunity for other young musicians to come and experience live music.

At last year’s concert we raised more than £2,000 for the Chelmer Bridge Rotary Club and we would love to match or exceed that this year."

Made-up of talented musicians and singers based all over the county, the concert takes place at Chelmsford Cathedral in Duke Street, tomorrow, December 28, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Tickets are £10 and £5 for 18s and under, available by calling 01245 467335.

Essex Music Services has a wide range of County Music groups offering opportunities to those already learning an instrument, to enhance skills, meet other like-minded musicians and have the chance to perform.

Essex Youth Orchestra (EYO) is the flagship music group and regularly sees many of its players become professionals in the music industry, benefitting from the high standard and opportunities gained from their experience in EYO

Essex Youth Choir is the most advanced choir run by Essex Music Service and offers students aged 11 to 18 challenging and varied repertoire in their rehearsals supported by sight-singing and musicianship classes.

To find out more call 0333 0138953 or contact musichub@essex.gov.uk