A TEENAGE jazz group is hoping to play in the Royal Albert Hall after getting to the national finals of a music competition for the third year running.

If Sheppard’s Pi, from St Birinus School, in Didcot, win their event at the National Festival of Music for Youth in July, they could be performing at the Schools’ Prom in November.

The sextet formed four years ago and have wowed audiences and critics with their funk and swing tracks ever since, despite none of them having any jazz training.

Pianist Ben Collins-Rice, 18, of Lydalls Road, Didcot, who also composes for the group, said: “It has been very much us getting together and taking it as we go.

“After a year we were getting regular gigs around the county.”

Drummer Dominic Callaghan, 18, said: “The first jamming sessions were interesting.

“I am not jazz trained, but it all fused together and made an interesting sound that people seem to like.

“It is quite unusual, and people do not seem to have heard it before, especially not from people our age.”