Lancaster's Haffner orchestra has a new leader of the French Horn section - and he is still at school.

David Sparks (pictured) is only 17 and attends Lancaster Royal Grammar School.

But he is described as an exceptional player who is also a member of the National Youth Orchestra the top symphony orchestra in the UK for young people.

Two years ago, he led the horns when his chamber orchestra won the National Festival of Music for Youth at the Birmingham Symphony Hall under conductor and teacher Jeremy Trusslove, so he has big-time experience.

Even so, he says he was thrilled and honoured to be asked to lead the Haffner's horns.

He says: "The standard in the Haffner is very high, and there is an extremely professional aura. The music is complicated and people know what they are doing."

There will be other sparks at the first concert of the new Haffner season, which is next Saturday, November 19, at Lancaster's Ashton Hall.

The fiery Cuban cellist Ana Ruth Bermudez will be playing Saint-Sans' Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, and the orchestra also plays Mozart's Don Giovanni overture and Beethoven's fourth Symphony.

Natalia Luis-Bassa, the young Venezuela conductor who gave such brilliant performances last year with the Haffner, takes the batonagain for this season's concerts.

Tickets are available from 01524-770503 or 32878 with young people aged 18 admitted free of charge.