HUNDREDS of the Bolton area's finest young musicians will come together next month to perform in one of the biggest displays of junior talent the town has ever seen. All the organisations that come under the wing of Bolton music Service will join forces for three consecutive nights of concerts called "Bolton Music Centre Presents..." And they really are promising to have the rafters ringing in the Alberts Halls on March 1, 2 and 3.

The concerts will be the high point of what has been the busiest ever winter season for the wide range of musical talent that has flourished from a wealth of opportunities opened up by the Music Centre.

Thanks to the work of the Music Service, Bolton Education Authority has forged a reputation as one of the finest centres of excellence for schools music in the country.

Next month, more than 600 young musicians will perform everything from choral works to classics, big band to brass. In all, 25 ensembles will perform everything from bubbly show music to the most testing classical masterpieces.

Rehearsals have been underway for months, squeezed into a hectic programme since last autumn that has seen Bolton's young musicians involved in everything from Christmas concerts to help the Mayor's charity to helping Sir Simon Rattle create the world's biggest ever youth orchestra. And to cap it all, Bolton Youth Concert Band won a gold award at the National Concert Band Festival.

Smaller groups have done sung, played to Christmas fair openings and serenaded a Westhoughton woman on her 100th birthday.

Tickets for next month's shows are available from the Music Centre on Bolton 658804.

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