Hampshire County Council's award-winning Youth Orchestra is looking for ambitious young musicians to join the group from September.

Auditions by the music service for one of the county's leading youth orchestras, which performs a variety of music from classical to contemporary, are being held in Winchester throughout June.

Those taking part must be under 19, of a standard equivalent to between grade 5 and 8, and live in, or be in full-time education in Hampshire.

The orchestra and its two training orchestras regularly perform all over Hampshire and London.

They have also undertaken tours as far away as Chile, South Africa, Poland and Italy.

The orchestra has won a number of national awards, including an Outstanding Performance award at the National Festival of Music for Youth, and been a part of a series of broadcasts on Classic FM under the auspices of Sainsbury's Youth Orchestra series.

The orchestra also has permanent associations with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and has been selected to take part in Masterprize, the international composers' competition at London's Barbican.

As well as running a full symphony orchestra, the youth orchestra, which recently moved into its new home-the purpose-built concert hall at Thornden School, Chandler's Ford, has its own string and wind orchestras and a new double reed ensemble.

Executive member for education, Don Allen, said: "Hampshire County Youth Orchestra is full of extremely talented musicians who have achieved great success and national recognition, and I always thoroughly enjoy listening to the accomplished music they produce.

"They are a credit to our music service and I hope many youngsters will choose to audition so the orchestra can continue its tradition of being one of the top youth orchestras in the country."

Application forms for the auditions may be downloaded from www.hants.gov.uk/hcyo or by ringing Hampshire Music Service on 01962-861502.