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The Ulster Youth Orchestra is inviting young musicians from Fermanagh to apply for places at its prestigious Annual Summer School which will take place at Greenmount Agricultural College, from the 9th-18th of August next year.

The Ulster Youth Orchestra was established in 1993 and is now regarded as one of the UK's leading youth orchestras. To date, hundreds of talented musicians have taken part in what is a 10-day residential course of workshops, master classes and rehearsals, during which students work with internationally acclaimed conductors, composers, tutors and soloists in addition to performing at an orchestral level generally unavailable within Northern Ireland.

One of the world's most renowned conductors, Hungarian-born Janos Furst, has signed up as Guest Conductor for the 2007 Summer School which will culminate in two public concerts featuring an ambitious repertoire that will include Berlioz' 'Symphonie Fantastique'. Janos Furst's association with Ireland stretches back to 1963 when he founded the Irish Chamber Orchestra and, since then he has achieved international fame as a conductor with Europe's leading orchestras as well as collaborating with orchestras within the United States, Japan, Israel, Australia and Latin America.

All applicants to next year's Summer School must be aged between 14 and 23 and will go through an audition process scheduled to take place at a number of venues during December and January.

While most applicants will be expected to have attained a standard equivalent to Grade VII or Grade VII, Stanley Foreman, General Manager of the UYO, is also encouraging promising players who have not yet reached this standard to apply and he is particularly keen to receive applications from double bass, bassoon and oboe instrumentalists.

"Our aim at UYO is to help to raise the standard of musicianship among Northern Ireland's young musicians and to offer them the challenge of playing a large scale symphonic repertoire," he said. "However, it's important to note that the Orchestra does more than help young musicians achieve their musical potential. Through the residential programme, we also help them acquire a variety of life skills including co–operation and teamwork, commitment and motivation, presentation and communication."

Applications for the 2007 Summer School can be obtained either by contacting the Ulster Youth Orchestra on (028) 9027 8287 or by downloading a form on www.uyo.org.uk. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 10th November.