FOUR schoolboy musicians have set their sights on stardom after winning a prestigious contest.

Matthew Arnold School pupils Alexis Panidis, Joe Peskett, George Readshaw and Dele Adewuyi, all 16, won the chance to record their unique brand of indie rock in a professional studio following their triumph at Reading Rock Academy’s Battle of the School Rock Bands.

The quartet also picked up £5,000 for their school’s music department after their band Yellow Fever beat groups from Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire.

Yellow Fever performed two songs to a crowd of 1,000 at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading.

Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Dele, who lives in Iffley Road, said: “We were all very nervous and didn’t really speak to each other before we went on stage, but it was all worth it once we got out there.

“We were really surprised to win. Apparently we all looked like we were going to fall over when they told us we’d won.”

The band have been practising together for more than three years, and were among eight acts to perform at the event on Saturday.

Dele, who writes most of the songs, said the band drew inspiration from The Arctic Monkeys, Oxford band Foals and Bombay Bicycle Club.

They have only performed in public a few times, including gigs at their school’s band contest, which they won, at a pub in Eton and at the Ark T Centre in Cowley.

Dele said he hoped three days of studio time would help launch them on to the thriving Oxford music scene.

He said: “We’re going to record as many songs as possible, then give the demo to venues and try and get some gigs. This is something I would like to do for a career in the future, but I would still like to go to university and continue with my studies.”

Music teacher Jason Greenwell was full of praise for the boys, who are studying for their GCSEs in music.

He said: “They are extremely well-rehearsed and really tight when you listen to them and their songs are quite original and accessible.

“It was amazing on the night. They were really nervous because they could see the other bands were really good, but they got up there and were very cool about it.

“It was brilliant.”