A series of exciting performances by students attending City of York Council’s York Arts Academy and local schools will strike up on 1 December 2012.

Three concerts will take place on 1 December at Central Hall, University of York. The first will start at 11am and will include performances from York Arts Academy’s various performance groups.

These include string and folk groups and Yearsley Grove Primary School Choir. The second concert begins at 2pm, and includes music to suit all tastes played by York Arts Academy bands, African drummers, a guitar ensemble and choirs from Huntington, Fishergate and St. Aelred’s primary schools. The third concert starts at 7pm, with performances by senior ensembles from York Arts Academy, including orchestral music from York Arts Academy Symphony Orchestra, performances by the Senior Concert Band and Big Band, a string quartet and early music from the Minster Minstrels, a group of young musicians specia lizing in early music and run by the York Arts Academy in partnership with the National Centre for Early Music.

Tickets are available on the door for each concert and are £5 for adults, £2.50 for concessions. Under-18s get in free but must be accompanied by an adult.

On 12 December, rock bands from the York Arts Academy and DJs from Door 84 get a chance to shine when they perform at the Door84 youth centre, 84 Lowther Street, York. This event begins at 6.30pm and tickets are available on the door for only £1.

Finally on Saturday 15 December, York Arts Academy’s Christmas Fun Day morning will take place at Canon Lee School. Besides a concert given by Academy members, it gives visitors a great opportunity to visit the Academy’s base at Canon Lee School and see what goes on there on Saturday mornings. The open morning runs from 9.30am to 12.30pm and is completely free!

Besides listening to the Christmas finale concert on 15 December, visitors to the Academy at Canon Lee School can join in a free ukulele workshop, suitable for any age, or try out a range of musical instruments.

For information about any York Arts Academy event, and to reserve tickets for the Central Hall concerts, please call Ted Schofield on 01904 554275.