Borough Beats photo gallery: young performers at the Hackney Empire

More than 200 young musicians took to the Hackney Empire stage for one of London’s biggest school concerts.

The fifth annual Borough Beats will showcase the best urban sounds, percussion and world music from schools across Hackney and Tower Hamlets last Thursday at the theatre in Mare Street.

The audience was treated to performances of instruments including tabla and dhol, African and Afro Cuban drumming, orchestral percussion and steel pan, as well as some impressive dance displays.

The evening culminated in a massed performance by all the musicians and performers.

Cllr Rita Krishna, cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “Borough Beats is one of the ways Hackney showcases the great musical talent being nurtured in our schools.

The young performers are extraordinary and it is always a real spectacle.”

The neighbouring borough takes it in turn to host the prestigious event and previous shows have been held at the Round Chapel in Lower Clapton and the Troxy in Tower Hamlets.

See the photo gallery on the right hand side.