BOLTON Youth Orchestra will play a new composition -- Bliss Is When We Will Be -- by Ben Ellin during their Spring Concert at SS Peter and Paul's Church, Bolton, on Saturday.

Bolton-born Ben did his formative musical work at Smithills School under Chris Wormald.

Ben started playing the tuba at the age of 13, and quickly became Principal of all ensembles at Smithills. After less than 12 months, he was given a similar position at Bolton music Centre.

In 1994, he was invited to join the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, becoming Principal in 1996.

Later that year he successfully auditioned for both the National Youth Orchestra and Chethams School of Music.

In 1997, he became Principal Tubist of the National Youth Orchstra, winning the John Fletcher Brass Award for outstanding contribution that year.

Since 1998, Ben has been a student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

He has frequently taken part in large scale concerts, both as a composer and conductor and in venues as prestigious as the Barbican Hall.

Ben continues his tuba studies with the London Symphony Orchestra's Tubist Patrick Horrild and studies composition with John Woolrich.

Saturday's concert is the culmination of the Youth Orchestra's residential course in February at Ingleborough Hall, Clapham, North Yorkshire.

During the course Ben rehearsed his new composition.

During the concert former Youth Orhcestra member Kate Sawbridge (cello) who is studying at the Royal College of Music, London, will be the soloist in Tchaikowsky's Rococo Aration for Cello and Orchestra.

Paul Payton conducts and the leader is Suzanne Cronnolley. The concert starts at 7.45 pm.

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