ALMOST 20 children were given the chance of a lifetime last month as they were able to take to the stage and sing at the Royal Albert Hall.

Thorpe House School pupils joined around 1,000 other children from more than 30 school and youth choirs across the country to perform in Handel’s Messiah.

Conducted by Suzi Digby OBE, the group were also joined by professional soloists and The English Festival Orchestra to sing the masterpiece.

School spokesman Sarah Melvin said: “The boys had a fantastic time and it's certainly an experience they won't forget in a hurry.”

The performance was a culmination of a jam-packed weekend of music for the Gerrards Cross-based school which also saw the senior students perform in their production of Romeo and Juliet.