Barely a year after singing together for the first time, boys from St Bede's Catholic Grammar School Choir hope to hit the right note during a nerve-jangling performance at one of the world's premier concert venues.

On Wednesday, lads from the Heaton school will clear their throats, take a deep breath and step into the limelight at the Royal Albert Hall.

In front of an audience of 3,000 people - and a panel of judges including Classic FM presenter Simon Bates - the choir will perform specially-arranged pieces in Latin, Spanish and French.

Simon Ackroyd, head of music at St Bede's and Chris McIlroy, assistant director of music for the Diocese of Leeds, which runs Catholic schools throughout Bradford, formed the St Bede's choir just a year ago. The pair, who share substantial musical expertise, have been surprised by the results.

Speaking at Bradford University yesterday, where the choir warmed up for the London competition alongside youngsters from Foxhill Primary in Queensbury, Mr McIlroy said: "The boys are 100 per cent committed to working as a team and the improvement in both their singing performance and self-esteem has been dramatic. They have worked very hard and are really looking forward to performing at the Royal Albert Hall.

"They have come on tremendously and are now singing in four-part harmony. They have a real sense of pride in the group."

After their performance in the capital, the St Bede's lads will wait with baited breath alongside seven other school choirs to discover if they have secured first or second place and a much-coveted prize - an all-expenses-paid trip to the World Choir Games in Graz, Austria, this summer.

Last September, St Bede's was selected by the Opal Foundation to take part in The Opal Choir Project. Inspired by the BBC2 documentary The Choir and the Government's Music Manifesto, the scheme has sponsored ten schools to establish choirs and, under the expert guidance of higher education partners, prepare for their national signing debut.

Mr Ackroyd said: "In the time we have been working on this project its given the boys something they definitely would not have had during normal school life.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for them and I know they are all very much looking forward to going and I think they have definitely grown in confidence - but they also have confidence that they are definitely going to get a place in the World Choir Games next week. I wish them all the best."

The World Choir Games will see hundreds of elite ensembles from more than 90 nations compete for the title of "World's Best Choir".

Next Wednesday's qualifying round will be hosted by BBC Songs of Praise presenter Diane Louise Jordan and will include guest performances from the award-winning Tenors Un Limited and the London Metropolitan University Choir.

Miss Louise Jordan told the Telegraph & Argus she was clear about the benefits of taking part. She said: "The Opal Choir Project is giving the children taking part - many of whom have never sung in a choir or visited London before - a once-in-a-lifetime experience which will help them grow individually and as part of their school communities.

"As someone with a passion to inspire people to be the best they can, I am delighted to be hosting this event. It promises to be a wonderful celebration of the transforming power of music and an inspiring, uplifting culmination to the personal endeavour of all involved."

The St Bede's boys have received technical help and advice from experts based at Bradford University's Tasmin Little Music Centre.

Mark Robinson, director of the centre, said: "It's been fantastic to work in schools where, formerly, there's been an emphasis on sport or other activities rather than singing and music.

"The situation is very different now as my colleagues and I have been working hard to nurture their talents and get these children ready for what could be one of the most exciting times of their lives.

"We are very grateful for the support we've had from the Opal Foundation and we wish all the children the very best of luck for their performance in London."

Amanda Robinson of the Opal Foundation, a charity established by the Opal Property Group to aid disadvantaged children, said: "The Opal Choir Project aims to help bring the joys and benefits of music back to education - including concentration, discipline, teamwork and increased morale. The Magic of Music at the Royal Albert Hall will be the icing on the cake, giving the children a unique opportunity to perform in one of the world's most spectacular auditoriums and an experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

St Bede's head teacher Paul Martin said the whole school was behind the choir and wished them all the best. "I saw them when they first started and they were like a football crowd," he added. "Now they are really good and they know that too - you can see it in their eyes."

l To book tickets for the Magic of Music at the Royal Albert Hall visit royalalberthall.com or call: 020 7589 8212.

l The Tasmin Little Music Centre will work with Bradford's Foxhill Primary School again next month when it presents "Indian Summer Hiawatha Showcase" on Sunday, May 18 at the Norcroft Centre, University of Bradford.