WALES' flagship performance arts venue gets its grand launch this weekend, and Gwent pupils will be there to take part.

A group of 15 pupils aged 15-18 from Llantarnam School will be performing at an opening-night awards ceremony at the Wales Millennium Centre this Friday.

The pupils, who are members of the school's senior choir, have composed their own music, which will be set to poetry written by primary- school pupils from across Wales.

Among the thousands attending will be Welsh megastars Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones.

The young performers have had support from members of the Welsh National Opera Orchestra over the last few weeks, while they've been putting the finishing touches to the piece - called Housebuilding - and they'll be backed by a rock band made up of fellow pupils at Llantarnam.

There's another celebration next week, when the senior choir release a new CD to mark the school's 50th anniversary.

Over the last 14 years the choir has established itself as one of the leading school choirs in South Wales, and recently performed on national radio, as well as the National Eisteddfod.

It's the choir's third CD and contains a cross-section of their repertoire, from classical favourites to Lloyd-Webber hits.