Youth Orchestra return for Ross

Sixteen-year-old Ross Houston is returning to the residential for a third year.

Following rigorous competitive auditions, Ross is one of 90 of Northern Ireland’s most talented young musicians selected to attend the annual summer course in preparation for two public concerts in Derry-Londonderry and Belfast.

The young musicians will be coached by a team of highly experienced professional tutors during the intensive 10-day residential course at Greenmount Agricultural College, Antrim.

Ross - who is a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain - is looking forward to the course.

“I have been playing the flute from the age of 9 and have been taught by several teachers such as Colin Fleming, the principal flute of the Ulster Orchestra, and Jennifer Sturgeon, who is also in the Ulster Orchestra,” Ross said.

He added: “I have been privileged to also have a few masterclass lessons with Sir James Galway. I currently receive lessons with Bill Dowdell, who was principal flute of the RTE Symphony and National Orchestras. I have a weekly lesson with him at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

“I am really excited to be coming back to UYO for my thirrd year because of the great friends you make at UYO and also because of the amazing tutors you are with throughout the course.”

Public concerts will be given at the Guildhall, Derry-Londonderry on Friday, August 26 (tickets from www.milleniumforum.co.uk) and at the Ulster Hall, Belfast on Saturday, August 27 (tickets available from www.ulsterhall.co.uk).