Hundreds of pupils get a live performance from one of Britain’s pioneering orchestras when 75 musicians turn up at their school in Bromley-by-Bow tomorrow.

East London Advertiser: School's antrium performance space where National Youth Orchestra is to play. Picture source: Bow SchoolSchool's antrium performance space where National Youth Orchestra is to play. Picture source: Bow School (Image: Bow School)

The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain is spending the day at the new Bow School campus in Twelvetrees Crescent as part of an educational programme getting more youngsters involved in the world of classical music.

Its 75 musicians are playing in the school library antrum in the afternoon alongside 50 students who are studying classical music, with other pupils lined up on the balconies overlooking the ground-floor performance area to watch and listen.

The visit has been organised by the school’s head of music, Owen Bourne, a former member of the youth orchestra himself when he was a student.

Owen, now 36, distinguished his time as a music student 20 years ago when he became the first ever composer with the orchestra when he was 16.

The former Bow Boys School which became coeducational when girls joined the new campus three years ago now has 1,600 pupils, most of whom will be watching tomorrow’s performance from the balconies, with excerpts including from Star Wars and West Side Story.