Rotary Club launches local heats for young musician prize

. The competition will take place at Square Chapel Centre for the Arts in November.

The competition is open to young musicians and singers up to 18 years who attend school or college in Calderdale.

Applicants have the opportunity to compete for a place in the regional heats, which will take place in spring 2015 at the National Centre for Early Music in York. Regional winners will go through to the national final later in the year.

The competition aims to give young musicians the opportunity to perform on a public stage, and to showcase their musical talent.

Entrants will also receive impartial feedback and assessment of performance by an experienced adjudicator,

Halifax Rotary Club president, Ian Firth, said: “One of the things that Rotary is most proud of is the work we do for the community, whether that is an environmental project, like the recent community garden created at the top of Shay Stadium, arranging a lunch for elderly people, or running diverse projects for young people.

“I hope that schools and young musicians will be encouraged and inspired by the opportunity to perform publicly and demonstrate their talents at a local, and possibly at a regional and a national level.”

The competition is open to all students, in full-time education, up to age 17 on August 31, 2014. There are three age groups, taking in school years seven through to 13, and covering the sections of wind and brass, strings (including guitars), keyboard and percussion, and voice. Entrants may enter more than one section.

The closing date for applications is October 1.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the competition can contact Linda Parker on 01422 322557, or by email at [email protected]