THE Avenue St Andrew's Church in Southampton and Thornden Hall in Chandler's Ford were hives of activity at the weekend as The Southampton Festival of Music and Drama 2005 opened with classes in speech and drama, adult vocal, junior and adult piano, woodwind and orchestras.

More than 1,500 amateur musicians, actors and singers will be assessed by professional adjudicators across a range of classes, from accordion to junior vocal.

The festival has run every year since 1926, except during the Second World War.

School choirs sang in Central Hall, Southampton on Tuesday.

This is the first time that the festival has used the Performing Arts Centre at Thornden School, as its principal venue.

Community arts manager, Jan Ward, said she was delighted to welcome the festival while Colin Touchin, the woodwind adjudicator, said there was a real 'buzz', wonderful music and a great atmosphere.

Julia Dewhurst, the vocal adjudicator, said she had enjoyed herself hugely and complimented both the participants and audience.

The chairman, Alan Jones, who was witnessing his first festival, said: "Southampton can take pride, once again, in the quality of the performances this year. You don't have to take my word for it.

"Come along to Thornden Hall this weekend and listen to more piano and vocal classes as well as strings, recorders, brass and guitar. You'll be in for a treat."

Entry fee for the audience is £2 for adults and children 12 years and over.

The Festival Concert is on Friday, March 11 in Thornden Hall, Chandler's Ford at 7.30pm. Tickets are £7 and £4 for students under 18. Tickets may be purchased on the door or reserved in advance on 023 8024 6579.

The results for February 26 and 27 are published in today's Daily Echo. See tomorrow's paper for more festival pictures and results.