AN Amman Valley teenager will soon be playing amongst the best musicians in the country.

Rhydian Tiddy has been awarded a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain 2018 playing the Tenor Trombone.

The National Youth Orchestra is the world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers.

The Ysgol Bro Dinefwr pupil will join 163 other teenagers from all over the UK to take part in the orchestra.

14-year-old Rhydian was selected out of 700 musicians from auditions which were held in 11 cities across the UK.

Over the next year, Rhydian, of Derwydd, Llandybie, will participate in three residencies with inspirational music directors.

He will also perform in major concerts, play live on BBC Radio 3, appear on Classic FM, and participate in the National Youth Orchestra Inspire programme.

He will also be a part of National Youth Orchestra’s 70th anniversary celebrations.

Rhydian said: “I’m really excited to be part of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

“I am looking forward to playing the exciting repertoire for 2018 and playing alongside other young musicians from across the UK.

“I am also excited about working with the tutors and conductors and am keen to learn from their expertise.”

Rhydian’s jam packed year will kick off early in January with the performance of a complete opera: Bártok’s macabre fairy-tale Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, conducted Sir Mark Elder.

Three concerts, in Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday, January 5, Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday, January 6 and London’s Barbican Thursday, January 7 will follow, celebrating the magical, mythical and weird in music.

As part of the official month-long 70th celebrations in April, the National Youth Orchestra divides into two ensembles.

One orchestra performs Leonard Bernstein’s MASS with conductor Marin Alsop, directed by Jude Kelly CBE.

The other orchestra takes on Bernstein’s concept of the concert for young people, reinventing it as National Youth Orchestra Unleashed, concerts by teenagers for teenagers, conducted by Kwame Ryan.

The National Youth Orchestra will also work with Sir George Benjamin during their Summer Residency which culminates in concerts at Aldeburgh on August 2, and Birmingham Symphony Hall on August 3.