Get set for Weymouth Music Festival (From Dorset Echo)

Get set for Weymouth Music Festival

11:15am Wednesday 3rd March 2010 in

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AMATEUR musicians are flexing their fingers and tuning their instruments in preparation for this weekend’s Weymouth Music Festival.

The day-long event has been running for 22 years and is renowned for its ability to bring out the best in players of all ages and abilities.

Festival committee member Janet Ferrett said: “The festival is popular because it is non-competitive and the entrants are encouraged rather than scared by the adjudicators.

“One year there was a young girl who went in to the competition thinking she wanted to give up her instrument, but by the end of the day she was so enthusiastic about it she decided to stick with it. I think that is marvellous, and it’s what the festival is all about.”

This year there are 13 different classes with entrants from primary and secondary schools from all over Dorset, as well as adults.

The classes include piano, accompaniment, woodwind, choirs, orchestras and ensembles, rock and pop bands, strings and organ playing.

Most classes take place at Weymouth College and the organ class will be in the nearby St John’s Church.

This year the adjudicators are Caroline Diffley, Robert Latham, Roy Robinson and Mark Tanner, who will be giving a piano workshop at 3.45pm.

Although the festival is non-competitive, entrants thought to be of a particularly high standard are invited to perform in a festival concert, which takes place a week later.

The festival is open to the public, who are invited in to watch the classes free of charge. Programmes are also available costing £1.

Weymouth Music Festival takes place at Weymouth College and St John’s Church at Greenhill, Weymouth on Saturday, March 6 from 9.30am until 5pm.

The festival concert will be on Friday, March 12 at 7.30pm in Wey Valley School. Admission costs £3 plus concessions.