FELSTED School has announced that Julian Lloyd Webber has agreed to act as Patron of their new �3 million state-of-the-art music school.

Mr Lloyd Webber is one of the world’s most renowned solo cellists and has recorded and played with some of the world’s most accomplished musicians, from Yehudi Menhin, Lorin Maazel and Gerg Solti to Elton John, as well as his brother Andrew Lloyd Webber.

He is a passionate advocate of music education and music in schools, and co founded the Music Education Consortium in 2003 with James Galway and an old friend of Felsted, percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. In 2008 he became the chairman of In Harmony, a project designed to bring music into more deprived schools.

Felsted’s director of music, James Lowry, said: “We are honoured to have such a highly acclaimed musician as Patron of our music school and we look forward to Julian performing at our annual Felsted Arts Festival in 2012.”

Felsted’s music school, which was opened in January 2008 by Dame Glennie, boasts a large recital hall, accommodates an audience of over 200 people and provides outstanding acoustics.

It is also home to two dedicated academic music classrooms, a recording studio, percussion suite and numerous teaching and practice rooms.

“Music is part of the fabric that makes up Felsted life and has been for many years,” said a school spokesman. “Both Felsted School and Felsted Preparatory School have broad opportunities for musicians of all types – with the main aim that everyone who wants to be involved musically can be accommodated.

“All pupils are involved in some way, whether it is singing in Chapel, the inter-house singing competition or through individual musical interest.”