The weekend of Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th October sees the launch of the Isle of Man’s largest dedicated choir competition taking place in the Villa Marina Royal Hall. On Saturday afternoon from 1.00pm onwards you can see all 14 choirs in competition in the three classes – Men’s, Ladies, and Mixed Voice, battling to go forward to Sunday afternoon’s finals. The tension builds at 3.00pm on Sunday with the successful choirs from Saturday’s heats singing for the prestigious title of ‘Choir of the Festival’, a cheque for ?1500 and a trophy. The festival concludes on Sunday evening with a memorable night packed with Manx flavoured entertainment including The Ellan Vannin Pipes, The Manx Youth Band and Perree Bane dancers. Doors open at 7.30pm. A Weekend Festival ticket for just ?5 allows you entry to all three Royal Hall based events. Tickets are available from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, or by phoning the ticket hotline 01624 600555 or online at www.villagaiety.com. Free Festival programmes are available on the door from Saturday 16th October. The competition is the brainchild of local chorister Geoff Corkish MBE MHK, political member for Isle of Man Tourism. He said: ‘Our objective is to hold a competitive festival in a friendly atmosphere. We are very pleased with the number and standard of the visiting and local choirs. I would like to welcome everyone to what promises to be a real choral treat.’ The visiting choirs are drawn from Northern and Southern Ireland together with west and north Yorkshire, Lancashire, Norfolk and Essex. Highly respected musician and television personality Dr Alwyn Humphreys MBE is the official adjudicator with Scottish singer and long-time Isle of Man resident Moira Anderson OBE taking on the role of Festival Patron. ENDS