The Gozo Youth Orchestra and the Gozo Youth Wind Band are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year with a series of concerts and initiatives including the formation of the Gozo Junior Orchestra and the Junior Wind Band.

The youth orchestra is made up of 50 musicians who, after having studied music on an individual basis, meet regularly in groups to prepare an exciting and varied repertoire to be presented in concerts throughout the year.

After the Grand Concert Don Bosco, at the Don Bosco Oratory Theatre, Victoria, on January 30, the youth orchestra will present From the Beatles to U2 at the Mediterranean Conference Center in Valletta on March 5.

The 14th edition of Opera vs Pop Under the Stars will take place on August 1, while the seventh Stage and Proms on the Sea will be held on September 12.

On October 28, the youth orchestra will join forces with the group Helping Hands, which is also celebrating its 25th anniversary, for a gala concert.

The concert is titled A Night with Andrew Lloyd Webber with a special arrangement by the Really Useful Group of London.

Rock Classics of the 60s and 70s, a new orchestral rock concert, will be held at the Aurora Theater on November 19, while the third edition of Christmas Rocks the Astra will be held at the Astra Theater.

The concerts are made possible by the Ministry of Gozo, the Directorate of Cultural Heritage within the Ministry, the Malta Arts Council within the Cultural Program Support Fund, Festivals Malta and MTA.

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