ALMOST 200 pupils from across North Ayrshire put on a chart-topping music festival at Dalry Primary School recently.

Featuring some of the very best local musical talent, Popfest, featured North Ayrshire Schools’ Training, Junior and Senior Orchestras; Garnock Musicworks Intermediate and Sinfonia Orchestras and Music Service’s string students.

The musical spectacular included a roll call of chart smashing hits from the likes of Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Guns and Roses – culminating with an impressive One Direction finale piece.

Not to be outdone, the staff from Music Services also took to the stage to perform a few tunes.

The MC for the event was Sophie Lewis, a St Matthew’s Academy pupil who has recently been appointed a Young Ambassador for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Sophie has been learning cello through the Council’s Music Service since she was eight years old.

With a packed audience of over 400, the event was a great way of showcasing the musical talent in North Ayrshire.

Molly Houston, a pupil at St Peter’s Primary and a member of the Junior Orchestra said: “I really enjoyed taking part in Popfest.

I love pop music and really enjoyed playing all of the pop songs and dressing up as Katy Perry.

Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’ is my favourite song and I loved playing my cello along to it.

“It was good to work with all the other orchestras as well.” North Ayrshire Provost, Joan Sturgeon, attended the event and gave a vote of thanks, she said: “I would like to congratulate all of the pupils and staff involved in Popfest, they put on a truly fantastic show and I certainly enjoyed myself.

“We have seen an array of musical achievements from our pupils this year, which is testament to the talent and dedication of our youngsters and our excellent Music Service Team.

"Popfest was the perfect way to highlight their talent.” MC for the day, Sophie Lewis, 17, from St Matthews Academy said: “Popfest was an amazing experience for me as the music was so different to what we usually play, it gave me a chance to try new styles of playing and I’m sure all of my fellow musicians would agree it was nice to do something a little different and current."

Sophie, who is a cellist, continued: “The music service were kind enough to let me give out surveys at the concert which will help my work with the RSNO and also by allowing me to MC I was encouraged to build my confidence and I will use this experience to feed back into the community when I start my work with the primary schools.”