TONIGHT pupils will perform at the official opening of their Chandler's Ford school's new £2m concert hall - just months after a major fire.

World-renowned deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie will join a number of student ensembles at Thornden School's new state-of-the-art venue.

It marks the end of a project that began in the mid 80s and was hampered by a fire that caused more than £1m damage to other parts of the school six months ago where reconstruction work is still ongoing.

The 400 people in tonight's audience will enjoy exceptional cathedral-like acoustics created with a 40ft ceiling and special wooden soundboards mounted on walls and ceiling.

Community arts manager Jan Ward said: "All of the children are really looking forward to the concert.

"It's going to be spectacular."

The concert hall sits at the hub of new drama studios, specialist music rooms, a music library and instrument storage space that is wrapped around the outside.

These facilities are a stark contrast to the old school hall - which was only just big enough for a year group - where all music concerts used to take place.

Teachers believe that pupils at the designated performing arts school will be inspired to achieve even more now and the students agree.

Molly Rosenberg, 14, a cello and double bassist, said: "Now we've got lots of rooms where anyone can go and set up and the sound in the hall is brilliant. It makes you want to try harder and sound better.

"It's going to be really nerve-racking performing in front of so many people but we have been looking forward to it for ages."

Mrs Ward said: "It makes a huge difference to their performance playing in a place with such good acoustics.

"The audience will also notice a massive difference. It's so much better than sitting in a school hall in terms of the sound and you don't have to look over the person in front's shoulder because the seating is on raised layers."