YOUNG musicians from Malvern and beyond will be performing the music of Elgar in the historic splendour of Sicily.

The ESO Youth Orchestra flew out to the Italian island earlier this week to take part in the Catania International Music Festival.

Conducted by William Boughton, they will be playing alongside top musicians from around the world at venues, including a monastery, a cathedral and a Roman amphitheatre at the foot of Mount Etna.

Janet Masters, the co-leader of the ESO, said the orchestra would be performing six concerts, with two different programmes.

"We've got a Tchaikovsky programme including the Piano Concerto and the Symphony No 5, and we've got an English programme, with the Enigma Variations and Walton's Viola Concerto," she said.

The orchestra, made up of 75 young people aged between 11 and 21, has been busy rehearsing at Malvern Girls' College for the tour.

The concerts are next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 25-27, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 29-31.

"It's a hectic schedule," said Janet. "They will be working very hard and performing in front of audiences of thousands."

Among the local musicians who belong to the orchestra are Alan and Adrian Uren, Lucy Shepherd, James Flanagan, Andrew Bateman, Sarah and Jamie Lee and Kate Valentine.

"Everyone is very excited about the trip," said Janet.