The Manx Competitive Music, Speech and Dance Festival 2016 looks set to be one of the most varied in its history following the introduction of a range of new classes, which have attracted a raft of new entries.

‘The Guild’, in association with award-winning property developer Dandara, will take place from 22nd to 30th April 2016 at the Villa Marina and St Thomas’ church in Douglas. It has extended its dance classes to include Solo Ballet, Character Duet and Group Modern, with the latter proving popular with performers. It will take place in the Royal Hall on the first Friday of the Festival, 22nd
April, from 5pm and on Sunday 24th April from 1pm.

The newly introduced Battle of the Bands class will take place on the evening of Tuesday 26th April, also in the Royal Hall, where seven bands (three in the under 18 age group and four in the over 18 age group) will fight it out for the title. Bands will play covers and their own original compositions and the audience will be able to vote for their favourites. This exciting new category will be supported by the Festival’s partners for the evening - Soundcheck – who will help the bands set up and use the impressive equipment at the Villa Marina.

The more traditional classes have also been very well-supported with 35 entries in the very popular Songs from the Musicals adult class, taking place on the evening of Thursday 28th April. Organisers have also received a pleasing number of entries for the Folk Song class, especially in the Years 4 to 8 category.

This year some classes have been moved to the beautiful St Thomas’ church to provide a more intimate setting with a lovely acoustic. On Sunday 24th April it will host vocal, organ and spoken solos; on Monday the operatic classes and on Tuesday the Foreign Language Art Song and British Composers classes.

Owing to changes to the rules, entries to the piano classes have dramatically increased this year. Anyone who is learning to play at the standard of a particular grade can enter a class in that grade irrespective of their age, which means that people learning to play the piano later in life can compete with others at the same level. Due to the additional competitors, an impressive array of talent - in solo and piano classes; with music and from memory – will perform on Monday 25th April. The Lieder Voice and Piano class will finish off an evening of fine entertainment.

Other highlights to look out for during the week are hand bell ringers and Highland pipers and a local music and dance group called ‘Rhythm of Bulgaria’.

In another new development, the week will culminate in a Festival’s Finest 2016 concert in the Royal Hall on the last night – Saturday 30th April. This will showcase some of the most enjoyable performances from across all three areas – music, drama and dance. The line-up will include the winners from prestige classes as well as highlights from the week.

As always, the Cleveland Medal contest will take place on the final Friday (29th April) of the week. The blue riband competition, presented by the Cleveland Ohio Manx Society since 1923, celebrates the very highest standard of singing in the Island and demonstrates the outstanding quality of local performers.

Season tickets for the Festival are ?30 and cover all nine days of the competition. Tickets for individual sessions are ?4 but under 18s are free of charge. The Songs from the Musicals, Cleveland Medal Test and Festival’s Finest 2016 are ticketed events costing ?8 for adult and ?4 for under 18s.

Programmes for the Festival will be available in late March from outlets around the Island. For more information please go to www.manxmusicfestival.org. 

Photo - Competitors at last year’s Manx Competitive Music, Speech and Dance Festival.