MUSICIANS composers and singers are urged to send in their entries for the town's 108th Swindon Music Festival.

The closing date is looming for this year's festival which will be held at three venues, Christ Church, and The Arts Centre from Friday, March 24 to Saturday, April 1, 2017. Entry forms need to be completed by Friday, January 13, 2017.

Last spring 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.

Three professional adjudicators will give feedback on competitors showcasing their skills in daily classes for piano, guitar, brass, woodwind, strings, organs, choirs, solos, duets and composers.

The festival vice chairman, Sheila Marcer, said: "The festival provides a platform for amateur performance combined with an educational element from professional musicians. The object of the festival has always been to advance the education of the public arts in Swindon and in particular the art of music.''

The festival encourages 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, has again offered his services as accompanist.

The festival has been a stepping stone for a number of artists who later found fame in the entertainment world or made music their profession.

Jazz superstar Jamie Cullum flexed his pianist's fingers on the festival platform in 1988 and the film star Diana Dors trod the boards 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 London's West End, in the Queen musical We Will Rock You.

Young Kimberley Mok, 13, won her piano class two years running in the festival and was the special guest at the Kentwood Christmas Cracker at the Wyvern Theatre.

Trophies and cups donated by well-known names around Swindon will be given to the class winners and these will include the Swindon Advertiser Cup for Girls or Boys' Solo under eight, the Holmes Music Guitar Trophy, Kentwood Trophy, Ray Dance and Judith Sharp Trophy and a cup from the chairman of the festival officials, the Geoff Walters Trophy.

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.

The Swindon Music Festival is affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals and is also a Registered Charity (No 1030721).

For more details of the festival and entry forms visit www.swindonmusicfestival.co.uk.