Jazz supremo Jamie Cullum, who recently appeared in the ITV series The Halcyon, competed in the 1988 and 1989 Swindon Music Festivals. To spot the next rising stars, music fans can attend the 108th Swindon festival this month.

Jamie showcased his fleet fingers in the under-nine piano solo and the piano duet classes. Another Swindon-born celebrity to compete was film star Diana Dors, who entered in 1938 under her real name of Diana Fluck. In both 2006 and 2008 Swindon singer, Sarah Covey, was crowned Vocal and Supreme Champion of the festival and she went on to star in the Queen musical We Will Rock You in London's West End. Young Kimberley Mok, 13, won her piano class two years running in the festival and was chosen to be the special guest at the Kentwood Christmas Cracker at the Wyvern Theatre in 2016.

In last year's festival Robert Felstead won the Supreme Championship Cup, winning the C S Macpherson trophy, Anahita Falaki won the Instrumental Championship and Harry Apps won the Junior Vocal Championships 2016.

Everyone is welcome to attend the daily sessions to see the stars of tomorrow performing in classes for piano, guitar, brass, woodwind, strings, organs, choirs, solos, duets and composers.

The festival will run from Friday, March 24 to Saturday, April 1, in Wroughton Parish Church, Bath Methodist Church and The Arts Centre in Devizes Road. There is a wide choice of music including songs from the shows and films, music from 20th century composers, recitals, opera, Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, gospel, music hall, modern pop, baroque, folk songs, sacred music, songs in foreign languages and jazz.

There are three sessions a day from 9am, 1.30pm and 6pm, and tickets are £2 per session for day and £3 for the evenings. The Instrumental Championship is on Wednesday, March 29, tickets are £5, on Friday, March 31 it is the Junior Vocal Championship, tickets £5 and both the Senior Vocal Championship and the Supreme Championship are on Saturday, April 1 and tickets are £8.

The festival attracts entries from all ages and offers classes for the under eights up to the mature voice (upper age no limit). Founder of the Swindon Recital Series and concert pianist, Paul Turner, will again be the official festival accompanist.

The first Swindon Music Festival was a one night competition in 1909 held in the Mechanics Institute. It was based on the ideals of an eisteddford and was the brainchild of R G Cripps who became mayor in 1938. In that first event there were six entries and today the festival attracts almost 1,000 entrants. For more details visit www.swindonmusicfestival.co.uk. - Flicky Harrison