Around 600 aspiring musicians and singers are unpacking their music stands and sheet music ready for the 109th Swindon Music Festival, which begins on Friday, March 17.

The church organ and adult choirs classes herald the first day of the festival in Christ Church, Old Town. The Arts Centre in Devizes Road then plays host for the rest of the festival, which runs until Saturday March 24.

This year there has been a huge uptake of children competing with as many as 35 per class preparing to battle it out for a cup or trophy, including the Swindon Advertiser Cup for for Girls or Boys' Solo under eight.

Chairman Geoff Walters has been involved with the festival since 1952 when he was nine and entered for the first time.

"I loved going and taking part. I still do, it is a special week in my calendar,'' he said.

Geoff's father, Arthur Walters, was a previous festival chairman, serving until 1990 and his mother Betty Walters was on the committee.

"My grandfather was on the first committee which was set up following the success of the first festival in 1909, when there were just six choirs in the Mechanics Institute,'' said Geoff.

"The festival owes its beginnings to a trip to Wales more than 100 years ago by Mr R G Cripps, the grandfather of Jill Austin, one of our helpers for many years.''

After seeing the Eisteddfod in Wales, Mr Cripps launched the Swindon festival and it has been attracting the town's finest musicians ever since.

"One of my biggest wishes for this year is to persuade the many older people living in Old Town to pop down for a session to see some great music during the day,'' said Geoff.

The showcase of music covers everything from folk to pop, choral to opera, gospel to jazz.

The festival helped launch the careers of jazz super star Jamie Cullum, a contestant in 1989, and Hollywood film actress Diana Dors who entered in 1938.

In both 2006 and 2008 Liden singer Sarah Covey was crowned Vocal and Supreme Champion of the festival. She went on to graduate from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, was an understudy for West End show Killer Queen and appeared in the Eurovision song contest.

Last year's Supreme Champion was Zoe Tan who scooped the C S Macpherson Trophy.

All singers are accompanied by Swindon's own concert pianist Paul Turner, who has played at the Wigmore Hall recitals with Patricia Rozario and Caroline Dale, has recorded concerts with Elizabeth Watts for the BBC, played concertos with the English Chamber Orchestra, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3's In Tune programme.

The adjudicators are guitar teacher Christopher Daly, soloist and pianist with the Barbican Piano Trio, James Kirby and singer, teacher and conductor Andrea Calladine.

Tickets are £2 for daytime sessions running from 9am and evening sessions are £3 with16 and under going free. Tickets for championships are £5. For more details visit http://www.swindonmusicfestival.co.uk/ - Flicky Harrison