IN a sun-filled classroom in Sighthill, 30 young voices pipe up in a rousing rendition of Ally Bally Bee. It's a fun, rowdy afternoon of music and laughter for these Primary Six children.

But as they sing along to the traditional Scottish tune, the message rings out loud and clear that this is more than simply a sing-along.

At the heart of the action is Ledia Doci, a 10-year-old girl who, like many of her classmates, came to Scotland as an asylum seeker.

In a school where 52% of the pupils do not speak English as their first language, many of them refugees from countries that are about as different from Scotland as it is possible to imagine, music has been a unifying force.

Last year, Ledia played fiddle on stage in front of 2500 primary school children at one of the Celtic Connections' music festival's daily schools concerts at the Royal Concert Hall, after she was picked out as one of the most talented youngsters to participate in the festival's education outreach programme.

And just four years after arriving in Glasgow from Albania with her family, she has become something of a local celebrity within her school. The bright, bubbly wee girl has a breezy and charming star quality - as well as buckets of talent.

"At our music classes we play Irish and Scottish music, and sing," Ledia says. "We play two instruments each - but fiddle is the best! My friend Erda and I practice together at home.

"My mum loves to hear me playing - both our mums help. They used to play music too."

In the 12 months that have flown by since she performed on stage at last year's Celtic Connections, Ledia's confidence has blossomed.

She is a savvy child who can identify the skills of her pals, pointing out that her Malawian friend Chiko is a talented actor, great dancer and a superb singer.

"Everybody gets on really well. We have lots of fun," she adds.

It is evident that the children support and encourage each other, which is all the more remarkable given the challenges faced by not only the teachers but the community at large.

St Stephen's Primary and its neighbour, Sighthill Primary, sit in the shadow of the tower blocks in the north of Glasgow, in one of the city's poorest areas.

In the early days, in particular, when the refugees and asylum seekers first started arriving in Glasgow, there was an atmosphere of hostility, instability. The communities made uneasy neighbours.

But thanks to the far-sighted thinking of the teachers of the two schools, they have helped to forge links that would otherwise have been impossible to develop.

Head teacher of St Stephen's, Jennifer Boyle, explained that to begin with, children of asylum seekers and refugees had been bussed out of the area to a special school.

We pointed out the reason children weren't integrating was because they weren't going to school together in their own local community," she added, And when the Celtic Connections schools education programme stepped in two years ago, the bonds were made stronger yet again, as the children from all nations joined together learning to play instruments and being swept up in the enthusiasm that whirling, birling folk music can generate.

The phrase "education outreach programme" sounds rather cold and clinical.

But to see in reality what that means - Ledia, playing for her delighted classmates, and chatting animatedly with the other kids who are equally as passionate about music - is an inspiring sight.

Mrs Boyle admits: "It is a challenge for the teachers. Children come in with no English at all, particularly in the infant department, Primaries One to Three. But, particularly in Primary One, we find that within six months they have a great Glaswegian accent!"

Although the population of the school - which has had pupils from more than 39 countries - changes frequently, with children of asylum seekers and refugees moving in and out as their cases progress, she said the youngsters are incredibly adaptable.

And the schools are also a focal point for the parents of children of all nationalities to meet and integrate, from playgroup upwards.

Of the Celtic Connections outreach programme, Mrs Boyle says: "It is fabulous, it has been great. In the beginning they came once a week for a set block of time.

"The introduced themselves at assembly, and said here are the instruments, they are all available to play. The tutors sometimes come and bring instruments from around the world.

"We have Russian children, and are hoping that a Russian singer who is appearing at this year's Celtic Connections might be able to come in to the school for a workshop.

"Celtic Connections has been very pro-active in approaching the schools with ideas."

Since 1998, 100,000 children have benefited from the festival's education programme, which encourages youngsters from all walks of life and all nationalities to absorb Scotland's cultural heritage.

That could mean enjoying live music from some of the festival's biggest stars at the brilliant daily schools concerts at the Royal Concert Hall, or taking part in workshops.

It has been a massively successful initiative, which has established links with 70% of Glasgow schools.

But the benefits are much farther-reaching.

"Our children have really stayed with the Celtic Connections classes, and many of them, including Ledia and her good friend Erda, have carried it on and now attend music lessons on a Saturday morning.

"All the kids love it when they get up and play for their classmates," said Mrs Boyle.

After Ledia's impromptu concert for her classmates, her friend Claire Mitchell confides: "When you asked who is our favourite pop star, I was going to say Ledia!"

Ledia and Erda, originally from Croatia who is also 10, both play with the St Roch's Ceilidh Band, which is based at the adjacent St Roch's Centre and nursery, beside St Stephen's School.

Both of them hope to get to travel with the band - Ledia has already been to Ireland last year, and both went to a concert in London - and they both vow that they will keep on playing fiddle even when they grow up.

The enthusiasm of all the kids for making music is infectious, and even a little impromptu jam with a random selection of instruments becomes a riot of rhythm and fun, illustrating the unifying power of music, and the very essence of Celtic Connections at its best.