A second world-famous conductor has backed a campaign to fight off cuts to a music service which educates tens of thousands of children each year. 

Principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Simon Rattle, pledged his support over the weekend after performing with Redbridge Music Service (RMS) students at the Barbican Centre. 

Mr Rattle, born and raised in Liverpool, rose to international prominence during the 1980s and 1990s as conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. 

RMS students approached Mr Rattle off-stage following a performance with the London Symphony Orchestra, where he agreed to sign the petition 'Hands off Redbridge Music Service'. 

The fight to save the centre of excellence based at Fencepiece Road, Barkingside, comes after Redbridge council's announced proposals to slash its funding completely as part of a £70 million cost-cutting exercise. 

Proposals include making savings of £370,000 over the next two years by effectively privatising the instrument loan and repair service and transferring staff and reviewing all staffs terms and conditions. 

Mr Rattle is the second high-profile conductor to pledge his support after Grammy-award winner Bramwell Tovey backed the campaign earlier this month and met with deputy leader Wes Streeting. 

The RMS enabled him to become a professional musician after his father died and his mother could no longer afford the costs.  

Mr Tovey played his first major orchestral work with the RMS in the late 60s and taught music theory at the RMS while at secondary school.

The online petition started by parent group Friends of RMS has over 1,600 signatures. 

Member Helen Watson, 48, of Stanley Road in South Woodford, said: "Sir Simon Rattle is 'classical music royalty', with thousands of fans and followers all over the world.

"We are delighted that he has joined our campaign against the council's cuts to Redbridge Music Service.

"We hope that his support will help spread our message far and wide and encourage Redbridge Labour group to rethink its attack on our children's musical education."