TWO young musicians at Ivy Bank High School, Burnley, will be taking the stage with two professional pianists.

Gemma Latham, 16, and Charlotte Binns, 12, members of the Ivy Bank swing band and youth orchestra, will be performing with famous piano duo Sally Bishop and Anne-Marie Hastings in concert at the school on Monday.

Two grand pianos are being taken to school early that morning to be tuned before the four performers begin rehearsals prior to the afternoon concert.

The professionals met at the Royal Northern College of Music and have worked together since 1992.

Sally won the BBC TV piano competition 'Major Minor' at the age of 12 and in 1990 was awarded the silver medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Anne-Marie has featured in the Granada Television 'Celebration' arts documentary and competition successes for the duo have included prizes at the Tokyo International Competition, Royal Overseas League and first prize in the British Piano Duet Association Competition.

The event is part of the school's fifth Expressive Arts Week.

Also in the week's programme will be dance workshops by the Ludos Dance Company, Sarah Robinson of Royal Academy of Arts will be artiste in residence for the week plus music workshops.

The week closes with an impromptu evening of music, drama and awards which this year for the first time will be held at the Mechanics, Burnley.

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