A DECADE of making music has been celebrated at a specialist centre in Loughton.

Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing visited Loughton Music Academy, yesterday, to congratulate them on their tenth anniversary.

The popular academy currently has 500 students of all ages on its books, and a 100-strong waiting list.

It offers tuition on a range of instruments from strings to woodwind, brass, piano, guitar and drums, as well as singing, and language courses.

LMA Director Cliff Cooper said: "Of all the projects I have been lucky enough to be part of over these years the Loughton Music Academy has been the most rewarding.

"I have watched students grow up with us, some who have been with us the whole ten years, watching them develop their musical skills and confidence and I am proud to have been part of their journey.

"We will aim to continue to be at the forefront of music education in Essex.”

Mrs Laing, who is a Loughton Music Academy Ambassador joined the celebrations, sitting around a piano used by Freddy Mercury during recording sessions.

She said: “I’m really impressed by all that Cliff and his colleagues have achieved at Loughton Music Academy.

“The Academy is absolutely at the cutting edge of new technology and it is wonderful that local people, especially young people, have the chance to develop their musical talents in Loughton and at the Academy’s new premises in Buckhurst Hill.

“I congratulate them most sincerely on their tenth anniversary.”

Mrs Laing added: “I was totally overwhelmed by having the chance to sit and play Freddie Mercury’s piano.”