IF YOU were in any doubt that Southampton is a talented city, the Southampton Festival of Music and Drama should convince you that it is.

The festival, which gets under way tomorrow, takes place over three weekends and showcases some of the best local talent.

More than 1,000 amateur musicians and other performers will be taking part in the festival over three consecutive weekends from tomorrow until March 13 in this huge arts event.

The festival has been staged in Southampton ever year since 1926, bar the war years, and gives amateur musicians and actors a platform to air their talents.

Even though the festival is not strictly competitive, it gives those taking part the chance to be assessed by expert adjudicators.

Classes in a huge range of disciplines, from bands and orchestras to speech and drama, take place at Central Hall, in the city centre, Townhill Park House at the Gergg School, Cantell School, Bitterne Park School and St Andrews Church, The Avenue.

Sponsored by the Daily Echo and several other local businesses, the festival will feature almost 1,300 group and solo performances.

This year the festival will be presenting a new cup for class 211 in the adult vocal section in memory of Reginald Reed, who died in March last year. The final concert takes place on March 20 at the Turner Sims Concert Hall.

Admission to festival classes costs £1.50 for adults, or £1 with concessions per session/day. Entry is free for under-12s.

The results of the festival will be published in the Daily Echo each Wednesday for the next three weeks. For more information about the event, call John Smith on 01794 323487.