GIFTED young musicians showed off their burgeoning talents during a special concert for family and friends at a Redbridge school.

Students from Years Seven and Nine at Wanstead High School showed off their hard work over the past year by staging a memorable performance featuring a range of different musical genres from classical to African drums.

Tracey Phillipson, performing arts co-ordinator at the school, in Redbridge Lane West, said: "The evening opened with Katarna Saranovic on the flute performing Sicilienne by Maria Theresia von Paradis.

"This was followed by a big change in tempo and a blues arrangement by a group of Year Eight students, sharing some of the wonderful compositions being created within lessons this term.

"Other class work performed to the appreciative audience of family and friends included and arrangement of Michael Nyman’s Time Lapse by eight Year Nine students.

"Whilst our Year Sevens took to the stage with a lovely rendition of ‘Stand by Me’ and a very accomplished performance on the African Drums of ‘Jabba Jabba Djembe’."

Ms Phillipson said one of the highlights of the concert was a seasonal performance of Christmas classic 'I Believe in Father Christmas.'

She said: "The evening closed with our Jazz Band, many of whom have only joined the group this term, getting the audience’s feet tapping along to ‘Oh Lady be Good’ and ‘Stomping at the Savoy’."