Camerata Scotland at The Sage Gateshead.

James Loughran will conduct a very special concert, an all-Beethoven programme, with Camerata Scotland at The Sage Gateshead on Tuesday, April 3.

Camerata Scotland is the pre-professional chamber orchestra of The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS) which runs six national youth ensemble for students from all over Scotland.

This is a return visit after the orchestra performed at The Sage last summer.

Richard Chester, NYOS director, said: "I am delighted about the return. It promises to be an exquisite concert with the great James Loughran conducting in this fine venue."

Founded in 1992, Camerata Scotland has become a valuable bridge between youth orchestras and professional ensembles. It is regarded as the cream of musical youth in Scotland and the demand to join the orchestra is high.

It has toured extensively in the UK, Australia, France, the Netherlands and Estonia. Mr Loughran has conducted in most European countries as well as in the USA, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1965, he became principal conductor of BBC Scottish Orchestra, beginning public concerts in Glasgow's City Hall and appearing at the London Proms and Edinburgh Festival for the next seven years.

* n 1970, he became chief conductor of the Halle orchestra in Manchester and toured with the orchestra from Stockholm to Sydney. His recordings won a Gold Disc from EMI and there was universal praise for his Beethoven, Brahms and Elgar cycle of symphonies.

Later, he became principal conductor of one of Germany's premier orchestras, the Bamberg Symphoniker.

Since 1980, he has been permanent guest conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra which, in 2006, made him honorary conductor. He has also greatly enjoyed recent work in Denmark as principal conductor of the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets for the show at The Sage, which starts at 7.30pm, normally cost pounds 7 adults / pounds 5 concession / pounds 3.50 student but Culture Club members can obtain two tickets for the price of one.

Call the box office: [phone] and quote 'Culture Club two for one offer' when booking. The offer is subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other. For more information please visit www.nyos.co.uk