MUSICIANS strapped on hard hats and staged a prom on the construction site of their new �90 million centre.

The Guildhall School of Music & Drama held a unique ‘hard hat prom’ on Thursday (March 3) at the Milton Court development in Silk Street, Barbican.

More than 40 brass and percussion performers, wearing high visibility vests, belted out classics such as John Williams’ ‘Fanfare’ and Karl Jenkins’ ‘Palladio’ - in a performance conducted by Paul Cosh.

The new facility, which is due to open in 2013 next to the school in the Barbican, will include three performance spaces.

It will also house a 609-seat concert hall, a 225-seat theatre, a 128-seat studio theatre and drama teaching and administration spaces.

Professor Barry Ife, principal of the Guildhall School, said: “It is very exciting to see Milton Court taking shape and to have the opportunity for an early performance on the floor of what will be the new concert hall. It gave us a glimpse of what lies ahead when Milton Court opens.”

The Guildhall School, which is provided by the City Of London, has been in the Barbican since 1977 and it has 950 students.

The Milton Court development has been paid for with �75.5 million from the City of London and Heron International.

The remaining �13.5 million will be raised by the school.