"North Powys Youth Music was set up in 1993 and its Mission Statement is 'to promote, establish, administer and fund the activities of joint music-making for groups of children from North Powys schools'.

The High Schools currently participating are Caereinion, Llanfyllin, Llanidloes, Newtown and Welshpool.

These schools contribute a share of the tuition costs according to the number of pupils participating in the various groups - currently the North Powys Youth Orchestra, North Powys Youth Band, String Team, Training Band, Brass Blowers and North Powys Woodwind Group. These groups meet at Welshpool High School on Friday evenings during term time for a two-and-a-half hour rehearsal session - approximately 30 sessions per year.

The Band and the Orchestra each have their own independent Friends organisations that raise money to support NPYM activities, in particular the cost of transport for all pupils to attend Friday rehearsals. Additional income raised helps to fund residential courses and specialist workshops. The total number of students involved in making music under the auspices of NPYM is approximately 150.

NPYM is made up of representatives of the participating schools and three representatives from each of the two Friends groups. NPYM pays for two part-time staff to organise the scheme - an administrator and Friday night supervisor. But the funding of the Management Group is always a challenge: the participating schools are finding it increasingly difficult to make the contributions needed due to their reduced budgets.

The Group does not receive any local authority or Arts Council grants. However, it is extremely grateful for the long term funding of Control Techniques and the Laura Ashley Foundation and the very generous donations that it has received in connection with the Gala Concert in July 2006 from a wide range of local organisations.

Many youngsters who started playing an instrument through this scheme have continued their musical education at the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal Northern College and Birmingham Conservatoire and have gone on to very successful careers as solo and orchestral musicians. However, many who do not aspire to careers in music have found their involvement with the Band or Orchestra of great benefit. They acquire concentration skills and learn the discipline of being part of a team as well as developing a life-long love of music."

Written by Simon Baynes, chair of NPYM.

North Powys Youth Music's Gala Concert will be held at Theatr Hafren, Newtown, at 7pm on Saturday 8 July 2006.