Young musicians have been awarded four-year music scholarships to help them hone their skills by a charity run by the mayor of London.

Pupils Deborah Akeredolu, 10, of St Luke’s Primary School, Emily Clark, 11, of St Agnes RC Primary School, and Alexandra Villanueva, 10, of St Mary and St Michael’s RC Primary School are among the 70 musicians set to benefit from the £420,000 initiative.

The scholarships will give them extensive music tuition and support including opportunities to perform and attend concerts.

The girls will receive their scholarships in an awards ceremony at City Hall.

London mayor Boris Johnson said: “Not every child can afford an instrument or the lessons they need to make real progress as musicians and the fund is doing vital work to help hundreds of gifted youngsters towards realising their ambitions and achieve their full potential.

“In addition, as they develop as musicians these scholars are also gaining additional skills and experience that will be invaluable in all areas of their lives.”

The Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians was founded in May 2011 to support young musicians in London from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

The fund has spent nearly £1,200,000 on gifted musicians aged 7 to 12 since 2012.