Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra has been awarded 2,750 as part of the Sainsbury's Youth Orchestra Series 2000.

The money will help fund a concert in Oxford on Saturday. A further 3,000 in concert sponsorship and a broadcast on Classic FM rides on the orchestra's performance.

Their playing will be assessed by youth music expert Bob Vivian, ensembles director for Birmingham Music Service. If they are in the top six of the 18 orchestras awarded cash, the extra money and the chance to be broadcast by the country's leading commercial classical music radio station will be theirs.

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "This is the fourth time Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra has been successful in gaining sponsorship from Sainsbury's Youth Orchestra Series, receiving in total more than 12,000 in award money since 1997." To reach this stage in the 2000 series, the young musicians have fended off competition from youth orchestras nationwide.

Conductor Richard Hallam will lead the orchestra through a varied programme at Oxford Town Hall on Saturday, starting at 7.30pm. The programme will include Berlioz's Symphonie Fantasique, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite and Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Overture from Candide. Tickets, which will be sold on the door, are 6.50 for adults with 5 for concessions. Call the Oxfordshire County Music Service on 01865 778343.