EMOTIONS will be running high when Darwen School of Music holds its student showcase on Sunday.

For as well as being the first opportunity students will have had to perform live in well over 18 months, the event at Darwen Library Theatre is also being dedicated to former student Katie Foulds whose body was recovered from the sea at St Annes in April. The 22-year-old from Blackburn was last seen walking on the beach in February.

Paul Stuart Davis who runs Darwen Music School and was Katie’s singing teacher said: “Katie was such a talented singer and performed at our last showcase in November 2019. We thought it was fitting that we dedicate our first show back to her.”

Paul, who runs the school with Mark Bateson, added: “This will be out 28th showcase but it’s strange to think that we have students who have been with us for 18 months yet they have never had the chance to perform live due to the pandemic.”

The showcase is one of the first full shows at the Library Theatre since the lockdowns began and is heading towards being a sell-out.

Over 40 students of all ages will be taking part performing songs ranging from current chart hits to rock classics and West End favourites.

Darwen School of Music, based on Blackburn Road, currently has around 100 students with the school offering tuition in guitar, vocals, drums and piano.

“We kept going through lockdown with online lessons,” said Paul, “and we have seen a lot of new students coming once restrictions were lifted. In fact we have increased the number of tutors to eight which means we can now take on even more students.

“Sunday is a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience what it is like to perform on stage and to have a full audience there will be a brilliant occasion.”

Students from the school have been regular performers at Darwen Live and also the town’s Christmas lights switch-on.

“We have been without live music for such a long time,” said Paul. “There will be a really special atmosphere on Sunday and we are delighted to be given the responsibility to bring full live shows back to Darwen Library Theatre after so long.”

A limited number of tickets for Sunday’s show are available from www.bwdvenues.com