MUSICIANS from across Kent joined together for an emotional concert to bid farewell to a leading light in the county's youth music scene.

Scores of former orchestra members joined a sell-out audience at Mote Hall, Maidstone, on Saturday evening, for conductor Alan Vincent's last concert as director of the Kent County Youth Orchestra.

Mr Vincent, 58, from Teston, near Maidstone, has been KCYO director for 17 years. He has conducted major concerts in Kent, London and abroad and has taken the orchestra on numerous tours to Europe and South America.

Earlier this year, he conducted the orchestra and a 600-strong massed choir from across Kent in an historic concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London. It was the largest concert ever organised by Kent Music School, which runs the youth orchestra.

In addition to his work with KCYO, Mr Vincent also founded and conducted the Kent Youth Choir, Kent Chamber Choir and Kent Schools Orchestra.

Saturday's programme included a performance of Bruch's violin concerto, with the orchestra's leader Ben Hancox as the soloist, and ended with the conductor's favourite orchestral work, Elgar's Symphony No 1.

At the end of the concert, Mr Vincent was presented with a leather bound score of the symphony signed by the whole orchestra.

Kent Music School co-director, Steve Migden, who is taking over as artistic director of the Kent County Youth Orchestras, said: "Alan teaches through involvement and through being a real gentle man. He is not tyrannical, patronising or sarcastic. He will be missed by everybody that knows him and has worked with him."

Mr Vincent will continue to conduct the Chamber Choir and the Gravesham Choral Society but will devote the rest of his time to composing and freelance conducting.