YOUNG musicians and performers are invited to sign up for the 2017 Chipping Norton Music Festival.

Chipping Norton will be holding its 105th annual Music Festival from March 3-18 next year.

The Festival’s mission is to “promote confidence through performance” and is an opportunity for artists young and old to perform to an audience and adjudicator, and receive constructive feedback and guidance.

The schedule of categories is now published on the website cnmf.org.uk and is also available in Chipping Norton at the Jaffe and Neale bookshop, and people have until January 20 2017 to sign up.

Last year over 1,000 people took part and the event is a showcase for musical ability and professionalism in the Cotswolds.

Some categories of performance such as senior choirs can be oversubscribed, so groups are encouraged to book early to secure their place.

The full syllabus of events within the Festival can be found at cnmf.org The Festival spans a two-week period, giving time for all the different classes or categories of performance to take place.

Some awards such as the Youth Jazz Band Challenge Cup which was won last year by Reading School Band are awarded as the Festival takes place.

Others such as the Rotary Club Cup, which was awarded last year to Emma Pascoe from Chipping Norton School for her piano playing, are announced at the end of the Festival.

All the classes are non competitive, so that performers receive feedback in a supportive environment and the Festival helps to deliver its mission to “promote confidence through performance”.

Members of the public are warmly invited to join the audience, where they have a rare opportunity to see how young musicians develop their talent and can watch professional masterclasses in action.

The Festival is organised entirely by volunteers who all share a love of music and performance and want to help build the musical skills and confidence of others through the event.

Sarah Cobb, chair of the Chipping Norton Music Festival said: “The Chipping Norton Music Festival helps people to experience what fun it is to perform, and how life affirming music and performance can be. Some TV shows have recently jumped on the band wagon - we’ve been doing this in Chipping Norton since before TV was invented.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have adjudicators who are all leading professional performers in their own fields take part in our Festival here in Chipping Norton. For musicians, performers and the audience it is a wonderful opportunity to hear the adjudicators discuss music and performance in a more friendly and open setting.

“Taking part is a great way to nurture talent, and hopefully build a love of performing and music which will be a gift for life.”

The Festival always ends with a number of concerts. One is a traditional end of Festival concert which showcases some of the highlights from the Festival.

This year the second concert will be a performance given by Craig Ogden the world renowned guitar player, who is also the Festival vice president.

  •  Look out for look for more information on cnmf.org.uk