Festival needs entrants

An annual music festival celebrating its 30th anniversary this year needs performers to get entries in.

Lichfield Competitive Music Festival is thought to have had about 10,000 entrants in three decades.

This year's festival will be on November 10 and 17 at city venues to be finalised after the mid-September closing date for entrants.

Singers and instrumentalists who would like to take part can get details in the syllabus from S and J Music, Dam Street, Lichfield.

Up to 70 classes will be available over the two days including solo singing; small singing groups and choirs; brass; pianoforte; strings and woodwind.

Last year's festival attracted between 350 and 375 entrants, and organisers are hoping for similar success this time round.

Once the closing date for entrants has passed, a timetable of events is drawn up and all those taking part notified. Musicians and singers then turn up to perform at classes in front of a professional adjudicator, and some of the best ones will perform at the Winners Concert on November 17.

The public are also welcome to sit in and listen at the classes. Winners in most classes hold a trophy for a year, with those in junior classes receiving a permanent trophy.

The festival is open to musicians of all ages, and they will also receive comments from the adjudicators on their performances.

For details people should call 01543 490333.