Musicians, composers and singers should get tuned up for the 110th Swindon Music Festival.

The syllabus is out now, and musicians have a few months to polish up their pieces as the closing date for entries is Friday, January 18, 2019.

Geoff Walters, chairman of the festival, says that this year he is looking for more adult vocalists to come forward to compete and solo brass players.

“Over the years Swindon has had strong entries in the vocal classes and huge successes in the festival. There is a lot of singing talent in the town but the classes in recent years have dwindled slightly.

"Also we have a lot of brass bands in the area and we would like to target the individual musicians from the bands to join the festival,’’ said Geoff.

The 110th festival gets under way at Christ Church in Old Town before moving to the Arts Centre in Devizes Road, running from Friday, March 22 to Saturday, March 30 2019.

Classes include choirs, vocal solos, duets, groups, piano, strings, woodwind, guitar, ensembles, brass, keyboard, church organ and harp.

The adjudicators this year are organist/pianist and harpsichord player and teacher Gary Sieling, pianist Caroline Clemmow and opera singer Yvonne Patrick.

Gary has performed solo at Westminster Abbey and Kings College Cambridge, he has just retired as director of music from St Mary the Virgin in Henley and is accompanist to the BBC Singers, London Cantata Choir and the Bridgeman Singers.

Geoff added: “Our competitors have great feedback from the adjudicators who are world class performers and teachers in their own right.

“We are also fortunate to have Paul Turner as our accompanist. Few festivals have such a distinguished, professional musician.’’

Geoff is also keen to attract more people to enjoy the music and atmosphere of the annual festival. He says there is such an amazing quality of musicianship, and wide variety of music from folk to pop, opera to classical, musical theatre and film scores.

“I am hoping that this year retired people, particularly those who live in Old Town will come and enjoy this fantastic festival of music, the day sessions mean you don’t have to be out after dark, it is a day out for very little money, and even less if you become a friend of the festival,’’ said Geoff.

For more details of how to enter visit www.swindonmusicfestival.co.uk