Children from a Scots community once blighted by drugs, crime, despair and poverty are set to perform a classical concert on Thursday in the historic surroundings of the Great Hall at Stirling Castle.

The concert will be performed by the Big Noise Orchestra, featuring schoolkids from the Raploch estate, in the shadow of the medieval fortress.

The estate, once ruled by notorious drug dealer Mags Haney, has been transformed into harmony thanks to Big Noise - a classical music project based on Venezuela's inspirational El Sistema movement that has helped slum street kids join orchestras.

Since it was launched in Raploch in 2008, more than 250 children at the local Raploch Primary School - from nursery age to P5 - have been taught to play string instruments including violins, violas, cellos and double basses, which they play in their own orchestra.

Now they will perform in their most historic surroundings yet, in the castle's Great Hall - seat of the Stuart Kings and the scene of the baptism feast for Prince Henry, son of King James IV in 1594.

Gillian MacDonald, Stirling Castle Executive Manager, said: "This is a really inspiring project and we are delighted to be welcoming the children to the Great Hall to make their Stirling Castle debut."

Raploch's Big Noise is the first Sistema orchestra in Europe. It has been such a hit that an amazing eight out of 10 eligible children in the community are now learning music and the lives of a generation are being transformed. Playing an instrument is now the norm in Raploch.

The orchestra launched in 2008 with violins, violas, double basses and cellos. Later this year it will add woodwind, brass and percussion to become a full symphony orchestra. The Big Noise has previously performed at the G20 summit in St Andrews and at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh.

But Kathy Whitaker, The Big Noise Musician Manager, said: "We are so pleased to be playing at the castle, which is such a big feature on the skyline from Raploch. "All the children are so excited to be playing in such a grand place. We can't wait."

El Sistema was founded in Venezuela in 1975. Today it has a network of 180 orchestra centres serving 350,000 children across the country. The programme has also produced the world-renowned and acclaimed Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra.