Talented youngsters from Denbighshire banged the drum for music at a gala concert.

North Music Cooperative, which runs two sister organisations in Denbighshire and Wrexham, staged the show at William Aston Hall on the Wrexham Glyndwr University campus.

The hall was packed with family, friends and music lovers who were treated to a programme of bands, ensembles and soloists playing music ranging from classical pieces by favourite composers to pop songs and a roof-raising performance by a Samba band.

A group of talented youngsters from Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin, played a key role in the concert.

The Ambrose Band, which comprises of eight Year 8 pupils, were part of the team distributing programmes and Music Co-operative newsletters to the audience as they arrived before closing the first half of the concert.

Guitarists Meilir Rogers and Lucca Tardivel were joined on stage by drummer Tyler Chown with Mason Powell playing the saxophone and Llion Dafydd Barker on trombone.

Meilir said the rock and pop group was set up at the beginning of year 7 and have already played at numerous concerts.

He said: "The best one was when we got third place at the Urdd National Eisteddfod at Denbigh last year. We were close to home and there were a lot of our friends in the audience."

Mason added: "We were third again at this year's Eisteddfod."

He said the band get together every Thursday lunchtime to meet with their tutor, Teleri Sian.

Tyler said they all enjoy playing music. "We play some jazz, some pop and some rock. It's a lot of fun," he said.

During the concert they played Henry Mancini's Pink Panther and an arrangement of the Lord of the Dance.

There were also pupils from Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph and Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd

North Wales Music Cooperative chair Cllr Mark Young said: "It was an exceptional concert. Tonight the musical stars of North Wales have shone very brightly indeed and it is heartwarming to see that there is so much talent in our midst.

"Such an achievement has been made possible with the support of national and local Government we are working hard to inspire and develop future generations of musicians across all our schools and from September this programme will be significantly extended.

"So when we stage another concert next year we hope to share with you the musical successes of another year's endeavour."

Formerly headteacher at Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Geraint Parry said during the Covid-19 pandemic young people got out of the habit of participating in extra-curricular activities including music.

"Where we were before (the pandemic) is not going to come back by accident. With the financial backing available from the Welsh Government we are hoping to reverse that trend. From September we will be able to expand the service and we'll launch it with a series of concerts at every secondary school in the two counties. Working with the two education authorities we want to inspire the next generation of young musicians," he said.

Geraint Davies, Head of Education Service at Denbighshire County Council, said: "We are very supportive of the work carried out by the music co-operative and appreciate the hard work undertaken by the tutors and staff.

"The musical opportunities they offer our young people are excellent and we are very fortunate to have such talented tutors and that is evident in this gala."