Talented schoolgirls from across the district have been chosen to perform at one of the world’s top musical festivals. Bradford Girls’ Choir beat world-wide competition to land a place in this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The prestigious event sees the world’s best talent vie for places in a series of sing-offs, and has helped launched stars such as Luciano Pavorotti.

Bradford Girls’ Choir, which features 50 girls aged ten to 17 from Catholic schools across Bradford and Keighley, will take to the stage tomorrow in the event’s Senior Children’s Choir Class. It will see 14 children’s choirs, including groups from Australia, Russia, the Ukraine and South Africa, battle it out to become Eisteddfod junior champions.

Chris McElroy, choir leader and assistant director of music for the Diocese of Leeds, said: “We did not expect to be selected to perform at the Eisteddfod this year.

“The choir has only been going for two years so we are all very excited to have been invited. I decided to enter the choir for the first time this year.

“Gaining entry is a lifetime’s achievement rather than something you achieve in two years.”

The choir will sing two pieces in the competition: For the Beauty of the Earth by John Rutter, and Sanctus by Leo Delibes.

The girls have also been invited to give an additional performance after the competition, which will include works from Africa and the Americas.

Soprano Bethany Brankin, 13, a pupil at St Joseph’s Catholic College, said: “We are all really looking forward to it. Basically, the best young choirs from across the world are invited to perform!”

Hayley Coulton, 12, also of St Joseph’s, said: “We are all very excited and surprised that we got into the competition. We have made it straight through to the final. It’s great news for Bradford.”