THREE teenage musicians from Swindon joined professional players to perform a live concert for GCSE students yesterday afternoon.

Swindon Young Musicians teamed up with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for an educational afternoon of music.

Pieces from Mozart, Schumann and the Beatles were performed at The Platform in front of an audience of secondary school students from Churchfields, Commonweal, Dorcan, Isambard, St Joseph’s, Nova Hreod and Bradon Forest schools

The workshop went through how the instrumentals were put together and students got to see and hear the pieces they are studying for their exams played live.

Vocalist Sally Rudd said singing with the orchestra was a challenge for her.

The 17-year-old said: “The kind of songs they gave me to sing are so different, I thought it would be a chance to test myself as a singer.

“Everyone’s been really friendly, it’s been a relaxed, productive rehearsal. It’s nice to help other kids get involved in music.”

Her bandmate Sam James agreed. The 17-year-old guitar player said: “It’s a good opportunity to help younger children, considering we were in their position a few years ago, and it’s great to be with the professional musicians because they’re more knowledgeable than us, they can teach us so much. It’s a really good atmosphere here.”

The Young Musicians are part of the Swindon Music Service’s out-of-school music club.

Sabastian Scanlon, 13, from Old Walcot plays drums in the club.

He said: “It’s great because you don’t really get to play with bands like this very often.

“We’ve all been with the club for ten years. I started when I was three with the Early Bird singing group, now I play in the Young Musicians and in a jazz band with these two.

One year we got to play at Birmingham Symphony Hall after getting through to the final of the Music for Youth competition.”

The concert was part of a collaboration between Swindon Music Service, Make Music Swindon and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s BSO Blast programme for five to 18-year-olds.

The head of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Participate Lisa Tregale said: “We’ve given some talented young people the chance to perform alongside us which has been great. They’re doing a fantastic job.”

The Cabinet member for Children Services, Coun Fionuala Foley, said: “This is yet another example of the opportunities in Swindon for our music students to hone their skills and will no doubt greatly contribute to their GCSE preparation.”