ALTHOUGH she has had recent assistance from James Pearson, Jessie Davies has been secretary of the Altrincham and District Schools Music Festival since 1969.

However, her involvement goes back much further.

She took pupils from Broomwood Primary School there in 1956, just six years after it started and joined the committee immediately.

This year’s event will take place at the Cinnamon Club, Bowdon from March 16-18 with a concert on the Thursday night.

Although the festival is not competitive, two adjudicators will issue each primary school with a written assessment.

Anna Wright, will assess the choral, and instrumental sections and Diane Hutchinson, the choral speaking and dance.

“The adjudicator writes an adjudication sheet for every entry from every school,” said Jessie

Jessie thinks the combination of private and state schools works well. “The teachers and the children enjoy mixing,” she said.

This year there will be eleven state schools and five private schools participating.

Jessie believes the creative dance on the Tuesday has really ‘taken off."

“The children listen to music and create their own dances to it,” she said.

“Last year and this, an Asian lady from Wellgreen Primary School has introduced Indian dancing which will go under the label of International Dance,” she said.

“The children are excited about going on a platform and performing. It could be the only time in their lives that they do that.

The programme will be as follows:-

Tuesday, March 10

9.30 – 11 - Choral Speaking

11.00 – 11.45` - Dancing

1.30 – 3.30 - Choral

Wednesday, March 11

9.30 – 11.45 - Choral

1.30 – 3.30 - Choral

Thursday, March 11

9.30 -12.00 - Instrumental

6.30 - 7.45 - Concert

Admission to each section £1. Admission to concert £2.50