A GIFT to Westmorland Youth Orchestra by the Freemasons of Cumberland and Westmorland hit the right note.

The £1,000 cheque was presented to conductor Fredrik Holm by provincial grand master Norman Thompson at the orchestra's spring concert at Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale.

The hall was filled to capacity to hear the 60 gifted young musicians, said Brian Ferrington, communications officer for the Freemasons' South Westmorland group. Classical and contemporary pieces ranged from Danse Macabre by Saint-Saëns to Viva la Vida by Coldplay and George Gershwin's An American in Paris.

Mr Thompson told the musicians and audience: "Wherever you are in the world, music speaks the same language and instils discipline. The Freemasons look forward to supporting these young people in the future."

He said the cheque was the first of five annual £1,000 gifts to help the orchestra's players reach their "fullest potential".