DURING the festive season it is always a great pleasure for me to attend end of term musical celebrations at a number of the Hampshire family of schools.

I never cease to be amazed at the sheer talent of these young people making music across our county.

They are a credit to all who enthusiastically teach music in Hampshire.

There is no doubt that one of the important public manifestations of this talent is at the Buttercross in Winchester on Christmas Eve morning.

This is the scene for the annual coming together of past and present members of the Hampshire Music Service’s County Youth Band.

There is no doubt that this concert becomes more spectacular every year.

This year a massive band of over 200 musicians played for two hours and the quality of the music and the impact of the sound was stunning.

These talented young musicians entertained a large crowd, filling the whole High Street with festive joy as they played with gusto all the old Christmas favourites, enhanced with some modern arrangements as well.

This prestigious large scale event is particularly remarkable in that the young musicians have had to travel from all over Hampshire to take part.

We all owe a great debt to the band’s dedicated conductor, Jock McKenzie, and the Hampshire Music Service, whose aim is ‘Making Music Together’ with the motto of ‘Participate. Enjoy, Achieve’.

Any person listening to these young people making music in Winchester High Street this Christmas Eve, and enjoying the end of term concerts in our schools, would have no doubt that this motto is extremely appropriate.

Well done to all those young Hampshire musicians who continue to enjoy making music and give such pleasure to the rest of us.

The development of musical talent in Hampshire is without doubt in safe hands.

Cllr Peter Edgar, Executive member for education, Hampshire County Council