A NEW showcase for musical talent in the Forest has had a first successful outing and is now planning next year's concert for ensembles, bands, soloists, dance and drama acts.

Made in the Forest's first ever gala concert took place at the Forest Theatre and featured six of the Dean's top musical ensembles.

Opening the show with a full on crash bang and wallop was Forest Percussion which performed five set pieces including Viva La Vida and Jai Ho from the blockbuster movie, Slumdog Millionaire, rehearsed by Forest based percussion teacher, Steve Barnett, from Tredegar Band.

Up next were the newly crowned Forest of Dean and Senior young musician's George Stratford, 14, on tuba and Sam Davis from Coleford on trumpet.

Animals were the theme of songs from the combined primary school choirs of Yorkley Primary and Lydney C of E School accompanied by Rosemary Griffiths and conducted by Deborah Gibbons. The choir finished with an arrangement by Christopher Gibbons, 18, of Dick Brice's 'The Land Between Two Rivers'.

Ending the first half was the Forest of Dean Area Wind Band, conducted by Kristyann Symonds who organised the concert. The band opened with the Goddess of Fire by Steven Reineke and completed with the ever popular Pirates of the Caribbean by Hans Zimmer.

The second half opened with a debut performance by the Forest Little Big Band with 'Everybody Needs Somebody' from the Blues Brothers. It continued with a traditional brass band programme courtesy of Lydbrook Training Band followed by the Forest Flute Choir directed by Fiona Crawley.

Kristyann Symonds says: "The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the gala concert massed band item put together especially for the evening and certainly worth waiting for.

"The massed band played King Across the Water by Bruce Fraser. The piece opened with an explosive burst from the 10-strong percussion section before they were joined by the powerful brass team doing battle. The woodwind then joined in to move seamlessly into a breathtaking lament which exploited the beautiful sound from the army of flutes and showcased a classy understated solo from the Forest of Dean Area Wind Band's principal clarinetist, Matthew Brew.

•The Forest of Dean Area Wind Band is looking for new members for the coming academic year and would like to hear from orchestral brass, woodwind and percussion players aged 19 and under who are Grade 1 or above. Similarly, ensembles, bands, soloists, dance and drama acts who are interested in taking part in the second Made in the Forest Gala Concert, to take place on June 23, 2012, can register with Kristyann by emailing [email protected]">[email protected] or [email protected]">[email protected] or by telephoning 01594 562778.