OVER 300 people came out to support Redbridge Music Service students at their annual recorder festival this week.

Pupils from Churchfields Junior School, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School and Oakdale Junior School were among the 100 youngsters who took part in the festival at St Mary’s Church, South Woodford on Tuesday (May 24).

The festival, which has been running for nearly 30 years, gives young musicians in the borough a chance to perform to bigger audiences in order to improve their confidence.

Organiser Maggie Gobble of Redbridge Music Service said: “The reason I have been helping out with the festival for so long is because I love the recorder and really enjoy teaching it.

“Some of our older students performed solos, which really showed off the potential of the recorder as a serious instrument in its own right.

“I was immensely proud of the children, but also of the teachers - they have such a busy schedule but showed great commitment nonetheless.”

After a full house at St Mary’s Church in South Woodford on Tuesday, the festival moved to St Mary’s in Ilford for another sell-out show.