HUNDREDS of children from 13 schools and colleges came together to sing their hearts out as part of York School Choral Festival.

Almost 500 children performed over two days in the annual event which is now in it's eighth year.

This year the music showcase was held at the Exhibition Centre and at the Jack Lyons Concert Hall at the University of York.

This year the groups involved were Huntington Secondary School Man Choir & School Choir, Hempland Starlings Choir, St Lawrence's Year 4 and 5, St Aelred's Junior Choir, Clifton Green, Clifton with Rawcliffe, Badger Hill School Year 4 class, Haxby Road School year 5 class, Poppleton Road, Tadcaster Grammar School Pop Choir, Heworth School Singing Club, Lord Deramore's Yr 5 class and York College Choir.

Molly Newton, strategic manager for York Music Hub runs the event with fellow music teacher and community musician Buffy Breakwell.

she said: "Huge thanks to the music department manager Catherine Duncan who facilitated the event beautifully and was so helpful over the two days. As usual the pupils had a day or workshops and activities and rehearsals and came together to perform their choice of song before all joining together for the feel good anthem "Try Everything" from the Disney movie "Zootropolis".

"We were both really impressed with the standard this year, it really surpassed all previous years and we thought the energy from the children was incredible! There was also an inspirational performance from singer/songwriter Beth McCarthy which was amazing, especially when she had all the children joining in."

The festival was part of the York Music Hub festival series and there are more events planned, including a huge youth music festival - "HubFest" happening over the weekend of June 22 and 23.