TWELVE hundred young performers from Dorset filled the Royal Albert Hall for Dorset Rocks, a fusion of music, drama and dance presented by the Dorset Music Service.

From the fanfare by the Royal Signals musicians from Blandford, resplendent in scarlet uniforms followed by the National Anthem to the shattering rendition, full audience participation version of Rockin' All Over the World, the evening was a roaring success.

As an ambassador for the county the occasion would be hard to beat.

There was not one weak link in the chain from the thrilling, professional performances of the Dorset County Youth Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Jazz and Concert bands and 400 strong choir to the nine and 10-year-olds from the Lyme Regis pyramid of schools in a music dance-drama.

They wrote the song themselves about an infamous local pirate John Rattenbury.

They also performed an exhiliarating drum and dance sequence, World Drumming, with the West Dorset Music Centre in Bridport.

There were several firsts for the music service's Royal Albert Hall concert which was last held in 2005.

A competition to find the best Dorset youth rock band attracted hundreds of entries with the prize of performing in the footsteps of the famous going to Fitzpain from East Dorset.

Singer Andrew Diplock said: "It's awesome, a fantastic experience."

The outstanding choir involved 13 schools including Thomas Hardye, The Gryphon, Woodroffe, St Mary's Middle School, Puddletown and Dorchester Middle School.

The other new challenge went to adults who had never played an instrument before - form a rock band and play at the Albert Hall. And five did so in consumate style with You Really Got Me and Smoke On The Water.

Jane Staffiere, drummer with the new County Hall-based band Basement Jenx said: "It's been an amazing experience."

There were many 'wow' moments including the choir's Hallelujah chorus, the explosions and fireworks in the 1812 Overture with some 400 musicians playing, and 18-year-old Sam Merrick from Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne, singing La Mer with the Concert Orchestra in memory of DMS music development officer Steve Harris who died this year.

Hats off to all the conductors, teachers and organisers who trained the young musicians, dancers and actors over many months, got them there and back in 120 coaches, and gave them an indelible experience of a lifetime.