By Janet Banks FRESH from a tour of Germany, Colne Valley Youth Orchestra presents a gala concert at St Botolph’s Church tomorrow night, under its conductor and founder Nigel Hildreth.

The tour, based around Colchester’s twin town of Wetzlar, included three open-air concerts.

Nigel said: “It all went extremely well.

“Our final concert in Wetzlar was a prelude to the town’s wine festival, so we were in the festival square, playing to everyone there.”

Saturday’s concert will include most of the repertoire the band played in Germany – Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave, Weber’s First Clarinet Concerto with soloist Janine Plackett and Chabrier’s Joyeuse Marche, as well as favourites such as Brahms’s Hungarian Dance and a Dvorak Slavonic Dance.

Later, the orchestra will play some lighter numbers from film, TV and shows, including the Phantom of the Opera, the Beatles and 007.

Nigel said: “The concert itself is free. We did this last year and had a collection. Believe it or not, we got more money than we did for charging.”

The youth orchestra, who are aged from 12 to 18, is complemented by a training orchestra for younger players of Grade 2 standard or above.

Both rehearse once a month at Colchester Sixth Form College. An open rehearsal for any players interested in joining will be held on September 20. Call 01206 500733 for more details.

l Colne Valley Youth Orchestra performs in St Botolph’s Church, Colchester, tomorrow night at 7.30pm.