Anyone planning on entering this year’s Manx Competitive Music, Speech and Dance Festival is being reminded that the deadline is this Saturday (6th February).

The Festival, in association with award-winning property developer Dandara, will take place over nine days from 22nd to the 30th April. Entries can be submitted by post or, for the first time ever, online at www.manxmusicfestival.org. 

This year’s syllabus features a range of new classes, which the committee hopes will attract new competitors and spectators. New Chairman of the Festival, Sarah Kelly, says: ‘Over the course of the last two years, we’ve been working hard to introduce new classes, refresh our branding and launch a new website for the Festival, which includes a facility for people to enter online.

‘In order to appeal to more people, particularly the younger generation, we needed to expand the variety of the Guild classes, and we hope that “Battle of the Bands”, which is taking place on Tuesday 26th April, and the Ballet, Modern and Character dance classes will do that.’

To enter or for more information go to the website www.manxmusicfestival.org.  Alternatively, paper forms are available in the syllabus, which is available at outlets around the Island.

Paper applications should be submitted to the Secretary, Jacqueline Yates, 12 Devonshire Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 3RB.

The Manx Competitive Music, Speech and Dance Festival is presented in association with Dandara.