Due to a record number of entries, this year’s Alderley Edge Festival will start on Tuesday 11th May, a day earlier than previous years to create a five day extravaganza featuring the very best in brass, strings, percussion, song and verse.
2010 is a bumper year for the prestigious festival, with over 2000 people competing, some classes will boast over 50 contestants. New local schools have been welcomed on board and for the first time entries were book-able online, which has assisted with the Festival’s growth.
Keith Lowe, Festival Chairman explained “The Festival provides a platform for amateur performances with an educational element provided by professional adjudicators.
"This year we have more children taking part than ever before, in speech and drama we have seen a 25 per cent increase in participants, whilst the number of musicians has gone up by 20 per cent."
Four grand pianos have been specially ordered, and many venues throughout Alderley Edge will be used for the festival, including schools, churches and the scout hut. The Festival Hall itself is home to many classes during the Festival and will also host the prestigious Grand Finale that celebrates the best of all the talent on Saturday 15th May.
Picked as the crème de la crème those who perform at the Finale concert will be invited to a special workshop conducted by the Halle. Members of the orchestra will mentor youngsters in the morning of Sunday 4th July and prepare a concert for their families in the afternoon. This special master class, available to 20 lucky students, will feature solo players, groups and chamber music.
Another highlight for this year’s Festival is the Young Thespian Class which takes place at the Festival Hall on the evening of Wednesday 12th May. Caroline Morgan, PR Co-ordinator for the Festival, said “A really wonderful evening is assured. Please come along as a live audience makes a great difference to the feel of this event.”
Caroline added “Another way to be part of the action is to volunteer to help as a steward. The lively committee will make every one welcome and it's a pleasure to be part of this energetic team.
“The bunting will be out, the students and adults ready and willing to compete and entertain so all that’s needed is for you to attend.”
Next year the Alderley Edge Festival will be celebrating 100 years of entertaining the crowds and promoting talent in both music and drama. To mark the centenary, three very special competitions have been launched. Groups are asked to pen a fanfare which will be performed at the 2011 Finale, whilst poets are encouraged to pen a limerick and for those with an artistic bent a badge incorporating the Festivals logo is also to be commissioned. Deadlines for these entries is 10th September 2010.
For further information please visit the Alderley Edge Festival website, or email Caroline Morgan.
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Followed by the Junior Singer of the Year at 18.45.
Daily timetables are available at http://www.alderleyedgefestival.com/.