CHRISTMAS just would not be Christmas for me without joining dozens of others on a Christmas Eve pilgrimage to Winchester High Street to listen to the young musicians of the Hampshire Music Service.

The performance of seasonally appropriate music seems to have more impact and improves year on year.

This year was a particular achievement, as the members had to travel from all over Hampshire in the most appalling weather conditions.

The brass band for this particular occasion is made up of both present and past members of the Hampshire Music Service led by its enthusiastic conductor, Jock McKenzie.

This is an organisation that now leads a hub that enables 55,000 Hampshire young people to perform musically, provides 3,000 hours of tuition per week and now has 70 ensembles that perform across Hampshire. This festive season it has been a great pleasure for me to witness end-of-term musical celebrations in a number of the Hampshire family of schools and the sheer talent of the young people making music is astounding.

There is no doubt that one of the important public manifestations of this talent is this outdoor winter Winchester coming together annually where all the old favourites and some new are played with gusto.

This year, as always, but despite the terrible weather including a torrential downpour, they filled the whole High Street with festive joy.

The aim of the Hampshire Music Service is ‘Making Music Together’ with the motto of “Participate. Enjoy, Achieve.”

Any person listening to these young people making music in Winchester High Street this Christmas Eve would have no doubt that this motto is extremely appropriate.

Well done to all those young Hampshire musicians who continue to enjoy making music and give such pleasure to the rest of us.

Cllr Peter Edgar, executive member for education, Hampshire County Council.