The European Union (EU) Youth Orchestra is expected to delight visitors to the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai with a whirlwind musical journey through Europe at the "Europe Day" concert on May 9.

The troupe is made up of musicians aged between 14 and 24 from all 27 European Union countries. Some 80 members of the orchestra will head to Shanghai to play at the 75-minute concert.

The concert program will take the audience across Europe, from French composer Berlioz's Hungarian March, to Italian composer Boccherini's Night Music from the Streets of Madrid.

In honor of Spain, which holds the current EU Presidency, the conductor will be Inma Shara, one of the brightest representatives of the new generation of Spanish conductors, and much of the repertoire has Spanish connections.

Zhu Liying, a gifted young guitarist from the Beijing Conservatoire, will join the orchestra for Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez.

Joy Bryer, secretary-general and co-founder of the youth orchestra, said: "I am thrilled that the EUYO has been chosen as a goodwill ambassador for Europe for this extraordinary event."

An estimated 70 million visitors are expected to attend Shanghai Expo over the six months of the fair, which opens Saturday.

Founded over 32 years ago, the EUYO is one of the world's most prestigious and dynamic orchestras.

The EUYO's music director is the world-renowned Vladimir Ashkenazy, who has recently returned from conducting the orchestra's Spring Tour to Italy and Switzerland.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2010)