MUSICIANS of all ages and standards are invited to take part in the Weymouth Music Festival.

Entries are now open for the festival, which will feature young musicians who want a career in music and people who play for pleasure and fun.

The festival, which is non-competitive, will be held at Wey Valley School on Saturday, March 7 and will see musicians playing together from 9am to 5pm.

The festival is also open to members of the public who are invited to come along and enjoy the wealth of musical talent on show. Weymouth Music Festival will culminate in a concert on Friday, March 13.

Entrants have the rare opportunity to perform their music in front of an audience – many for the first time – and get feedback from a highly qualified and friendly adjudicator.

Strings specialist Catrin Win Morgan is joining the festival as an adjudicator.

Classes at this year’s festival are choirs and vocal ensembles, vocal solos and duets, piano, strings, orchestra, bands and instrumental groups, brass and woodwind.

The organ category has been revived and it is hoped that a composition class will be run in addition to the usual singing and instrumental classes.

The festival’s artistic advisor, pianist Duncan Honeybourne, said: “The committee would like to draw the attention of any interested parties to the fact that we want to build on the success of last year’s festival.

“Entries are open now and the closing date is January 23.”

Weymouth Music Festival started up in 1988 and some of the entrants over the years have gone on, partly due to their taking part in the festival, to take up music as a career and have achieved national and international fame including Duncan Honeybourne, Louise Savill/Dukes, Jack Duxbury, Fiona Dalzell and Christina Ball.

The festival is run entirely by volunteers and anyone who wants to help out on the day should get in touch.

The organisers would like to hear from businesses or individuals who would be interested in sponsorship opportunities. They should ring the Festival Secretary on 01305 835263.

Entry forms are available to download from the website. See weymouthmusicalfestival.co.uk