A school orchestra is celebrating after being invited to perform at a prestigious national festival.

Pupils from John Ray County Junior School in Notley Road, Braintree, will be performing at the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth next month after impressing judges in preliminary rounds.

It will be the 13th time since its formation in 1984, the orchestra has performed at the festival.

Malcolm Timms, who runs the orchestra for the children aged between seven and 11, said: "I hope it presents a positive achievement to the general public because it is quite an accolade to have reached the finals.

"They are very hard working and have developed their talents which is why they are there."

Published Tuesday, June 24, 2003

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