PUPILS from a Tyldesley high school will be blasting out with the best in the first ever youth jazz orchestras event in the UK.

The Salute to Youth Jazz Orchestras is being held next month and students from Fred Longworth High School will feature in this celebration of jazz alongside the best youth orchestras and some of the top jazz musicians in the world. Celebrating 25 years of the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra, the four-day event across the borough is running from March 22 to 25 and will see collaborations between local school bands and the cream of British and American musicians and jazz educators. Fred Longworth High School Bigger Band will be playing at Lordy's Nightspot, Tyldesley, on March 22 supported by a variety of top American jazz musicians. Other acts include the sensational Californian pianist Shelley Berg playing on Saturday, while Sunday's finale will feature past and present members of the award winning Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Prior to appearing in the festival the award winning Wigan Youth jazz Orchestra will embark on a week visit to Russia, where they will become the UK's first representatives at the Yaraslavl Jazz Festival.