Three talented Glee Clubs have sung and danced their way into the finals of a competition which saw hundreds of performers whittled down to just nine groups.

Ursuline Academy, Curtain Up Theatre School and PalmerStone Stage School are all through to the final of the Jack Petchey Foundation’s Glee Club Challenge, taking place at London’s O2 Arena on November 18.

The groups battled it out to become one of three winners from the London regional final, which was held at Stratford Circus Theatre on Friday.

The annual event, organised by the Jack Petchey Foundation (JPF), Clements Lane, Ilford, is inspired by the award winning US-television series, Glee, and is designed to find the best young musical talent from across London and Essex.

All regional finalists attended an Xfactor style boot-camp with a professional singing coach and choreographer to help them develop their skills.

Fourteen girls from the Ursuline Academy’s Glee Club, Morland Road, Ilford, who came runners up last year, sailed through to the final despite the club only starting two years ago.

Music teacher, Martin Novak, said: “We loved the fact we could meet other competitors and get feedback on our performances. We are very excited about getting to the final, because all the hard work had paid off.

“The girls choose all their songs and put together the choreography under the leadership of Aisha Pacqutte, one of the performers. We are determined to make our performances tighter and sound even better for the final.”

A group of twelve friends from the PalmerStone Stage School, Newbury Park, who have performed together from a very young age, also made it into the final for the first time.

The third finalist, Curtain Call Theatre School, based at the Cardinal Heenan Centre, High Road, Ilford, has been running a Glee Club for two years but it was only when the mother of one of the students saw the JPF competition that the group got themselves organised.

The winner will be chosen by celebrity judges Graham Norton, Tamzin Outhwaite and Brenda Edwards, who is currently starring in We Will Rock You.

For more information visit www.gleeclubchallenge.co.uk.