Taunton and Somerset Music and Drama Festival this week (From This is The West Country)

Taunton and Somerset Music and Drama Festival this week

8:33am Tuesday 15th November 2011 in Somerset

THIS year’s Taunton and Somerset Music and Drama Festival is now underway.

The Drama section, held at Temple Methodist Church, is looking forward to working with adjudicator, Anne Newson LRAM, RAM (Dip.) and John Carrington MA, who returns to the event for the third time. A wide variety of ages and disciplines have signed up to the week-long festival, with hundreds of young musicians and six adjudicators are eagerly anticipating a lively week at the Queens College-based event.

Many different instruments are set to be played and an impressive list of songs scheduled to be sung.

The Taunton Young Musician Competition has attracted a record 20 entries, with the first round set to take place during festival week. Up to seven finalists will be selected to play in the final held at Queen’s College on January 22. This year’s event features a new junior prize and trophy for entrants up to the age of 14 and the winner will be announced at the Festival Showcase Concert at Temple Methodist Church on Sunday, November 20 at 3pm. The competition is supported by the Rotary Clubs of Taunton and Taunton Vale, the Taunton Music Trust and the Taunton and Somerset Music and Drama Festival.

All events are open to the public and programmes are available from Gillian Greig Music.

A spokesperson for the event said: “It is encouraging that this festival – one of the oldest in the country – is still so well regarded throughout the county; the week will prove to be an exciting week of talent.

“Come and cheer these youngsters on.”