The Alderley Edge Festival opened on Tuesday, 8th May, with a full day of choirs in the Festival Hall.
Choirs came from Alderley Edge Community Primary, Alderley Edge School for Girls, The Ryleys, Wilmslow Prep, Terra Nova, Stapeley Broad Lane and beyond to perform in a packed hall.
Maria Rushton said "The audience was swept along on a sea of song - one minute tapping our feet to an uptempo tune, the next, brushing away a tear as the children moved us with a heartfelt ballad.
"All the children and their choirmasters had practised for months and their dedication shone through to match the sunny weather we were blessed with."
Later in the evening guests were treated to two of the most prestigious classes for solo vocalists with 13 year-old Ted Tanner from Wilmslow High School named Alderley Junior Singer of the Year and Nazanin Doostdar winning the Alderley Vocal Recital (Open) class against very strong competition.
The winning choirs were: Wilmslow Preparatory School Senior Choir won the Gleave Cup; Altrincham Preparatory School Choir won the Festival Award; Mini Voccini from Withington Girls' School won the Thelwall Cup; Voccini from Withington Girls' School won theFestival Award and Withington Girls' School Middle School Choir won the Rowell Cup.
Helen Rigby Head of Wilmslow Preparatory School said "Wilmslow Prep School have been proud supporters of The Alderley Edge Festival for over 100 years and we are delighted to be awarded the Gleave Cup this morning in the 'Year 6 and under Junior Choir' class."
The adult choirs get their turn to perform this evening (Wednesday, 9th May) when the Festival Hall will host nine choirs from 7pm.
The rest of the week is filled with classes for woodwind, brass, piano and strings which are held in venues around the village including the Methodist Church, St Pius Church and the Festival Hall.
On Thursday evening a very special event is planned - A celebration of Spike Milligan and Leonard Bernstein will be held in the Festival Hall from 8.30pm.
Maria said "Both of these gentlemen, geniuses in their own fields, were born 100 years ago. To salute the enjoyment they brought to millions we invited entries from performers in music, speech and drama. Entry for this event is free."
On Friday and Saturday it's the turn of the Speech and Drama performers to take to the stage and entertain the audiences with poetry, prose and acting. There are classes for Shakespeare, mime, verse-speaking, solo and group drama. The prestigious classes for Junior Thespian of the Year (Years 7-9) and Young Thespian of the Year (Years 10-13) are taking place on Friday evening in the Methodist Church from 6pm.
However, the highlight of the week is the Festival Finale when the outstanding performers from the week are invited to perform in front of a packed Festival Hall - providing a real celebration of the talent we have in the area.
Tickets are available from the Festival Hall priced £12 for adults and £6 for children. Light refreshments are included. The finale starts at 7:30pm, compered by Anna Meadmore.
