Sydney Russell School holds first ever Jazz and Blues festival

Staff and pupils at a Dagenham school have enjoyed a week of musical performances as part of its first ever Jazz and Blues festival.

Talented Year 9 pupils performed in Sydney Russell School’s atrium last week and it ended with a finale concert where the staff choir joined in with a rendition of ‘Fly me to the moon’.

Principal Janis Davis said: We’ve all been very excited about the Jazz and Blues festival and intend it to become an annual event.

“While we have a responsibility to widen students’ cultural horizons, we want to present music as something to be enjoyed.”

This is not the first time the Parsloes Avenue school has held a music festival - in March, it held one dedicated to classical music.

Ms Davis said that she was “very proud” to be investing in music at the school, adding: “These music festivals are a way in which we recognise our musicians.”