THERE will plenty of music coming from the Royal Forest of Dean Orchestra this Saturday (December 5).

The group is inviting schoolchildren from across the Forest to join in its Christmas concert rehearsal ahead of the show which starts the same evening at 7.30pm.

From 1.45pm to 2.30pm primary school age children – and younger – can come along to Coleford Baptist Church to join in with percussion instruments and see how a full orchestra works.

In the evening the main concert will come to life with a programme of seasonal pieces from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite to Rimsky Korsakov’s Suite from the Snow Maiden plus carols.

To get the orchestra in the festive mood rehearsals took place at St Peter’s School in Newnham-on-Severn.

Guest conductor Michael Cobb, who is currently studying orchestral conducting under David Jones at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, will be putting the orchestra through its paces. He is director of music and co-founder of one of London’s leading young orchestras, Orchestra Vitae.

Led by accomplished Forest of Dean violinist Ros Taunton, the orchestra has been entertaining local audiences for the past 21 years. 

Tickets are available on the door.

For more information contact chairman Liz Pritchard on 01594 510604.