PUPILS in Malmesbury are being given the opportunity to perform at one of the country’s most iconic alternative music festivals.

Thanks to a £1,200 donation from John Lewis, schools in Malmesbury and surrounding areas are being given the chance to learn about Brazilian culture and then perform what they have learned to thousands of festival-goers at WOMAD Festival.

Pupils from Malmesbury School, Malmesbury Primary, Minety and Brinkworth Earl Danby will be learning and working with Escola De Carnaval to better understand the culture of Brazil.

Through a series of workshops and performances at each school and rehearsals at Malmesbury School, they will learn about the country’s influence on music and dance.

Pupils will also get to try their hand at performing traditional music, using drums, brass and vocals, as well as dance.

Their first performance will then take place on Tuesday, July 19, at Malmesbury Abbey at 7pm.

Tickets will be available from the Abbey for £3 for adults and £4 for concessions.

The major performance however will take place on the main stage at the Malmesbury-based WOMAD Festival on Thursday, July 28, at 7pm, where the schools will provide the opening act for the festival.

For more information at WOMAD visit womad.co.uk