TALENTED musicians from a York school travelled to Edinburgh to compete in a national contest for chamber music.

The four girls from The Mount School took part in the semi-final round of the national Chamber Music For Schools competition, on Tuesday.

The girls, Lucy Brant and Christine Hall on the violin, Priscilla Hetherton on the viola and Fiona Simpson on the cello, had to take part in a performance and were judged on their abilities.

The girls won through to the semi-final after a competition in York on February 13.

Director of music at the school, Derek Chivers, said he was really pleased the girls had made it so far as it was not easy to do.

Meanwhile, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra paid a visit to the school.

Youngsters were treated to a performance of the musical murder mystery The Case of the Vampire Count.

Children from the junior department were also able to watch the performance as well as pupils from nearby schools, St Paul's School and English Martyrs' School.

The visit was part of the school music week, which also included a workshop from Ghanaian drummers.

Mr Chivers, said: "The pupils loved it. They all came out having learnt something and having their appreciation of music heightened."

Updated: 09:39 Thursday, March 06, 2003