Brass section

James Birchell (15, left), of the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, plays the French horn with (from left) Dunedin Symphony Orchestra members Jerome Rouse (French horn), Ralph Miller (trumpet) and Dunedin Youth Orchestra member Peter Claman (trombone) at a workshop in the DSO rooms at the Carnegie Centre yesterday.

DSO general manager Philippa Harris said the workshop gave Dunedin’s aspiring players the opportunity to "get a taste" of being part of the orchestra by playing some of its recent concert music, including the first movement from Beethoven’s Symphony No 3.

United Kingdom-based conductor Jessica Cottis  directing the musical performance at the workshop was a "treat".

"She made them work really hard," Ms Harris said.