12:16pm Friday 5th March 2010
HUNDREDS of talented youngsters will take to the stage to show off their musical and dramatic skills as part of the historic Southampton Festival of Music and Drama in the coming weeks.
The festival, at Thornden Hall, gets under way tomorrow and continues until the spectacular finale concert featuring all the cup winners on Friday March 19.
A variety of music and drama can be heard, including accordions, brass, orchestras, singers, poetry, acting and strings all the way through to woodwind.
Chairman Shelagh Lee said: “Over the past 80 years many thousands of people have taken part in the Southampton Festival of Music and Drama in a wide range of classes.
“We are always keen to encourage people to participate and this year we are offering an even wider range of opportunities in both competitive and non-competitive classes.
Since the festival began in 1927, tens of thousands of performers have taken part, many returning year after year and some even bringing their children and grandchildren along. The chairman herself was a regular performer as a child.
Some of the highlights of the festival include: Saturday March 6 Flautissimo, the south’s premier flute orchestra is giving a free concert in the auditorium at lunchtime.
Sunday March 7 – 7.30pm in the Dance Studio.
Do you like musical theatre? If so, this class is definitely the class to come and watch. Nine of the most promising young musical theatre performers in Hampshire will be performing, hoping to win the Joan Howard Memorial Cup.
Thursday March 11 – all morning in the auditorium.
Nine school choirs, four hundred children, over 20 different choral songs. Our first choir workshop morning – an opportunity to celebrate singing. In the afternoon school choirs will be competing to win one of three cups.
Saturday March 13 – Evening Come and listen to the accordions play. Truly a memorable evening.
Sunday March 14 – Afternoon Art Asia is running free tabla workshops in conjunction with the festival. Indian Singing classes are also included for the first time this year.
Friday March 19 – Evening.
Don’t miss the end of festival concert featuring the best performances of the festival.
Tickets can be purchased at the festival, or via southamptonfestivalofmusicanddrama.com
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