More than 1,400 young people from 35 schools will perform in one of the world’s most famous concert halls as part of an annual celebration of young musical talent.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Celebration of Schools’ Music at Snape Maltings.

Over the last three decades more than 40,000 Suffolk school pupils have taken to the Concert Hall stage and performed to an audience of approximately 95,000.

From Tuesday, March 7 to Saturday, March 11, seven schools each day will spend an afternoon rehearsing before taking part in an evening concert.

Lizzie Woods, learning and inclusion manager at Snape, said: “Next week promises to be an exciting week with lots of variety.

“We have visited many of our performers in the run up to the event to help with their preparations and all the schools are sounding fantastic.

“The project is a great chance for them to experience the magic of performing on a world-famous stage where some of the greatest musicians have played.”

Schools taking part are state-funded (local authority maintained, academy or free school), representing primary, secondary and special schools.

As part of the 30th birthday celebrations, each evening will culminate in a party-themed Finale I Wish, a song written by award-winning composer, vocalist and passionate workshop facilitator Gwyneth Herbert, giving all the performers an opportunity to take to the stage once again and perform together.

Gwyneth said: “We went to this year’s Celebration performers and asked them for three wishes – one for themselves, one for someone they love, and one for the world.

“You can hear their words directly woven into the lyrics – funny, kind, moving, beguiling, prosaic, poetic; all honest and full of hope.

“The song is theirs and it’s one of genuine celebration – of Snape Maltings, and the extraordinary creative work they do; of singing, and the magical feeling of community it generates; of young people, and the fierce power of their voices. And it’s also an invitation: to make a wish… to make it bigger… and then to make it happen.”

Gwyneth will be joined by pianist Ned Cartwright.

This year the project has also seen the involvement of Aga Serugo-Lugo, musician and workshop leader, who has visited many of the schools in the run up to the week to help with their performance preparations. Aga will be joining each evening’s performance.

Performances begin at 7pm. Tickets are £8, under 27s half price, and are available from Snape Maltings Box Office on 01728 687110 or online at www.snapemaltings.co.uk.

Schools taking part are:

Tuesday 7 March

Claydon High School

Cliff Lane Primary School

Hillside Primary School

Nayland Primary School

Paddocks Primary School/Newmarket Academy

Stone Lodge Academy

Thomas Mills High School

Wednesday 8 March

Bardwell CEVC Primary School

East Bergholt High School

Gusford Primary School

Howard Community Primary School

Ormiston Endeavour Academy

Priory School, Bury St Edmunds

St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, Bury St Edmunds

Thursday 9 March

Bawdsey CEVC Primary School

Hadleigh Community Primary School

Leiston Primary School

Pot Kiln Primary School

Sidegate Primary School

Somerleyton Primary School

Stowupland High School

Friday 10 March

Exning Primary School

Hadleigh High School

Handford Hall Primary School

Rushmere Hall Primary School

Sir John Leman High School

St John’s CEVA Primary School

The Ashley School Academy Trust

Saturday 11 March

Debenham High School

Nacton CEVC Primary School

Ranelagh Primary School

St Alban’s Catholic High School

St Helen’s Primary School

St Pancras Catholic Primary School

Tattingstone CEVC Primary School