HUNDREDS of students were treated to a performance by a group of musicians, hailed as one of the finest youth orchestras in the world.

The sports hall at Essa Academy was transformed into a concert venue as Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra was welcomed to the Lever Edge Lane academy on Thursday.

When Manchester-based Chetham’s School of Music offered to play a concert, Essa Academy decided to host it. The event was organised with the help of Bolton Music Service.

Students from Essa Academy and King’s Leadership Academy were also invited to play alongside the orchestra.

Conal Duffy, head of music at Essa Academy, said: “For most students that is the first time they’ve seen an orchestra.

“They inspire the next generation of musicians. The intention is to hopefully develop an orchestra of our own.”

The audience was made up of pupils from Essa Academy and King’s Leadership Academy and the whole of Essa Primary School.

The orchestra performed pieces by Bartok and Ichiyanagi and musicians were conducted by Franz Anton Krager, who flew in from Texas for the event.

Chetham’s director of music, Tom Redmond, gave the students a workshop demonstrating how an orchestra works. He even let some students conduct the orchestra for themselves.

Essa Academy’s students all have the opportunity to learn an instrument and already Mr Duffy has noticed the impact the event has had on students.

“They love it, I’ve already had 10 students who want to take up the violin.

"These are normally students who are bashing on drums.

“Our GCSE students today could name more instruments than they could before.

“It’s raised standards of expectations in what they can play. There’s been more interest in music, an injection of passion.

“Other teachers have told me that students were buzzing when they came back to lessons. It was a great event.”