FOUR teenage guitarists from Richmond school are tuning up to take part in the country's biggest youth music festival.

The ensemble was chosen from thousands of hopefuls at a regional audition in Rochdale, and will play at the Queen Elizabeth hall in London on July 5 as part of the National Festival of Music for Youth.

The musicians - Tom Duffy, Tom Parker, Tom Mountjoy and William Armstrong - were brought together last year by music teacher Mr Dave Harris for a school music tour of America.

The 15 and 16-year-olds continued playing together and were delighted to be chosen for the festival.

"More than 100 students from Richmond school went to the regional audition and these four were selected from literally thousands who applied," said Mr Richard Jones, head of music. "They all play acoustic guitars, which is quite unusual, and it is mostly jazz, swing and pop."

Most of the pieces have been arranged specially for the ensemble by Mr Harris, who coaches the young players.

The school has been represented at the festival in the past but this is the first time it has sent guitarists to the event.

"There is a rock and pop day in London the day before we play at the festival, so we may take part in that," said Mr Jones.