FARNHAM Competitive Music Festival, now in its 37th year, is recognised as one of the notable events in Farnham’s musical calendar.

All of the performers value the opportunities the festival provides to gain experience and confidence, perform in superb conditions, and to receive guidance in competitive classes and some non-competitive classes from professional and experienced adjudicators.

There is also an increasing number of monetary awards and more performance opportunities to help those intending to further their musical career.

An innovation last year, for example the Play2 class in piano and strings is aimed at providing a transition for younger performers before they are ready to give a full recital programme.

For the more advanced players in the piano section, Performers’ Platform is the ideal preparation for exams and auditions. Performers aged between 17 and 21 are eligible to apply for the June Fielding Award of £500.

The festival this year will take place in November at Frensham Heights School, and participants of all ages and abilities are welcomed.

This year the distinguished adjudicators are Sophie Langdon (strings), Christine Hankin (woodwind and brass), Helen Leek (piano) and Gail Mortley (singing).

The classes at the festival are grouped into four sections: woodwind and brass, strings (Sunday, November 8), piano (Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15) and singing (Sunday, November 15). Ensemble playing is also encouraged, and classes are arranged to take place during the strings and woodwind, and brass classes.

The festival concert will take place on Sunday, December 6, at the Aldridge Theatre at Frensham Heights.

In addition to the many financial awards kindly sponsored by local charitable organisations and individual supporters of the festival, a recent award for choirs has been created by the festival committee.

This will be the second year of the Mary Joynes Memorial Choral Award. Mary Joynes was the founder of Farnham Girls’ Choir in 1947. As well as extensive performances in the UK, the choir travelled to Europe and the USA. Mary Joynes passed away in August 2012 in her 96th year. The award of £100 will be made to a choir selected by the adjudicator of the singing section classes.