A Carlisle drama and music festival which is over 120 years old will begin this week.
Carlisle and District Music and Drama Festival begins on Sunday, March 8, at 5pm in St. Cuthbert’s Church, and runs for six days.
The opening class on Sunday is Songs from the Shows Junior Solo, age 13 and under, which has 26 entries.
During the week, classes will be held in St Cuthbert’s Church, the Tithe Barn and St George’s United Reform Church.
The festival is the second oldest in the country. It gives local amateur performers of all ages the chance to demonstrate their talent and compete in classes that cater for all interests.
From vocal and instrumental music through drama to choric speaking, many local schools have once again entered their pupils to display the outstanding work that takes place in the classroom, preparing the children for performance while building confidence and developing life skills such as team-work and public speaking.
Alongside the schools, the open classes attract entries from across the county, and the age range of competitors ranges from five to 90.
A gala concert on Saturday at 6.30pm, to which all are welcome, provides a showcase of some of the best performances of the week and sees the presentation of trophies and awards to the winners from the week’s competitions.
Festival admission is £3 per day and a programme is available, also at £3.
For £15 people can become a festival patron, which provides a free programme and gives entry to all classes throughout the week.
For more information and details of individual classes, visit https://www.carlislemusicanddrama.com
