An annual Christmas orchestra concert will have an extra special celebratory theme this year.

The Manx Youth Orchestra will perform its Christmas concert at the Villa marina on Saturday, December 11, from 7.30pm.

More than 150 young musicians, from the island’s schools, will take part in the concert, performing in one or more of the many groups to present a concert full of classical music, seasonal favourites, carols and modern classics, including interpretations of songs by Adele, Nirvana and Wham, as well as Christmas classics, James Bond themes and music from the baroque composer William Boyce.

The concert will feature several different groups, all part of the Manx Music Services umbrella, and will hear performances from the Manx Youth Jazz Band, the guitar ensemble, the wind orchestra, the training orchestra and the ’Superstar Strings’, featuring some of the youngest musicians, as well as the full senior Manx Youth orchestra.

This concert will be the 50th consecutive Christmas concert performed by the members of the Manx Youth Orchestra and will herald the beginning of a celebratory year for the organisation, as it prepares to mark its half century throughout 2022.

’This concert will mark the orchestra’s 50th Christmas and we are looking forward to raising the roof in the Royal Hall yet again,’ said Maggie Richardson, Head of Music Service and conductor of the Senior Manx Youth Orchestra.

’Our young musicians have put together a sparkling programme of light classical music, songs from stage and screen, traditional carols and pop and rock classics like Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and the latest James Bond track by Billie Eilish. We will have something for everyone.’

First performing in 1971, the Manx Youth Orchestra is looking forward to a year of various events and concerts to mark the orchestra’s 50th anniversary.

The main focus of the celebrations will be a gala concert in the Villa Marina during the summer, which will hopefully see the current crop of musicians perform alongside as many past musicians and Manx Youth Orchestra members as possible.

’We did something quite similar for our 40th anniversary,’ said Maggie.

’We had former members returning to the island from all over the place, including a couple of people that travelled from New York to the island just to play.

’That was a very special occasion and you could see how that some of the bonds that the young musicians had formed during their time with the youth orchestra had survived over the years.

’We are hoping hat the same hing will happen next year and we can get as many of them back here again.’

This year’s concert will be taking place in the midst of the current Covid-19 situation on the island, and the audience will be asked to wear face coverings should they wish to attend.

This in contrast to last year’s concert which went ahead when the island basked in its good fortune to be relatively unaffected by the global pandemic.

’Last year’s concert was incredible,’ said Maggie.

’There were nearly 200 people taking part and the audience were so appreciative and incredibly supportive of the concert.

’It was probably the only youth orchestra concert that took place anywhere in the world. The crowd were brilliant and the kids absolutely loved it.

’We hope to have the same experience this year.’

Tickets for the concert are £10 for adults or £5 for children and are available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety Box Office, on 600555, or online from villagaiety.com

Proceeds of the Manx Youh Orchestra concert will be split equally between the Friends of the Manx Youth Orchestra and the local charity ’Manx Eating Disorder Support’, which was chosen by the students themselves.