A SCHOOL choir has been invited to play at the National Festival of Music for Youth this summer.

Following auditions at a regional festival at St Aiden’s School in Harrogate last month, Richmond School’s Chamber Choir has been invited to the perform at the event in Birmingham in July.

The choir, made up of students in years ten to 13, will be performing at the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham’s Conservatoire, as part of the week-long event.

The youth festival is the largest of its kind in the world, made up of the best young choirs from around the country.

At the regional festival the judges praised Richmond School’s energy, quality of performance, and varied program which included Lean on Me, Dirait-on, based on a French poem and students’ own medley of music by Beyonce and Lady Gaga, which included their own dance routine.

Music teacher Andy King said: “It’s a tremendous achievement for the choir, who started singing together in September, and they are really excited for this wonderful opportunity to perform at this very prestigious event. I am immensely proud of them.”

Headteacher Ian Robertson added: “This is not just a wonderful opportunity for the students but also terrific for the community.”