A new era beckons for the Guild, after the event secured headline business sponsorship for the first time in its long history.
Property developer Dandara Group has signed a three year deal to support the Music, Speech and Dance Festival - which will see it through until the Guild's 125th anniversary in 2017.
The festival began on Friday and runs through until next Saturday (2 May), attracting more than 1700 competitors in more than 170 different classes over the nine days.
Graham Crowe from the Guild's promotional committee says Dandara's sponsorship means organisers can develop and diversify the event - for the benefit of competitors and audiences.
Dandara Group Managing Director Seamus Nugent said: ‘The Manx Music, Speech and Dance Festival is one of the main highlights in the Island’s cultural calendar and we are extremely proud to sponsor such a significant event.
He added:
‘The organisers do a wonderful job in keeping the Festival accessible to all, with ticket prices kept as low as possible. The sheer variety of talent on show each year across the many classes is breathtaking - singers, choirs, solo musicians, bands, dancers and groups, and of course there is plenty for those who have a love of the spoken word and drama.

‘We are really looking forward to working with the Festival committee over the next three years.’


Pictured: Left to right – Dr Jacqueline Yates, Festival Secretary; Ken Bawden, Festival Chairman; Mrs Anne Clarke, Festival Vice-Chairman; Joanna Orton, Marketing Director, Dandara Group