BOYS and girls from a Burnley school choir are preparing to take part in Europe's largest celebration of young music-makers.

The 45 Rosehill Junior School pupils will join 600 other musicians from around the North West at the Music for Youth festival in Liverpool next week.

Professional pianist Steven Black, the uncle of choir member Suzanne Waterworth, aged nine, is providing the accompaniment.

The event is chance for the choir to build on last year's enormous success. The pupils were chosen to sing in a professional production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Opera House, Blackpool, last autumn.

The Music for Youth festival involves music groups of all styles, from full orchestras to jazz and rock bands.

Twenty groups are taking part, and some will be chosen to compete in July's week-long National Festival of Music for Youth.

Rosehill school's music co-ordinator, Lesley Riley, told the Citizen: "We are just aiming to do our best. It is a chance for the children to see and hear other choirs. If we are chosen to go to the national festival then that will be a bonus.

"We have been practising constantly and the children have been working very hard. We are very much looking forward to the event."

The North West festival is one of 35 around the country. More than 700 groups will be assessed over a six-week musical marathon for the chance to play at the Schools' Prom at the Royal Albert Hall.

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