THE three-day Altrincham and District Schools Music Festival will enter its 68th year next week.

On Tuesday, Bowdon when local schools show their skills in Creative Dance, Choral Speaking, Choral and School instrumental groups at the Bowdon Rooms.

The festival is a winner of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of the work performed by volunteers over so many

years.

This year’s adjudicators will be Roger Shelmerdine, president of Altrincham Choral Society and a Freeman of Altrincham, who will judge the Choral and Instrumental Classes, and Malcolm Thomson, an acclaimed Morris Dancer, who will judge the dancing.

Joint Secretary James Pearson said: “They just give a report. It is always positive with guidance for improvement if necessary. There are no positions and no winners.”

Admission to any session is by programme costing £2 and £2.50 to the evening concert on Thursday, March 15, at 6.30pm.

The ball will start rolling on Tuesday, March 13, between 10am and 11.10am when six groups from Hale Preparatory School, two from Bowdon Preparatory School and one from Pictor Academy will demonstrate creative dance.

Later that day between 1.30pm and 2.15pm, three groups from Bowdon Preparatory School and one from Hale Preparatory School’s under sevens will present Choral Speech.

Also, Hale Preparatory School’s under elevens will perform three songs in the School Choir section.

On Wednesday, between 9.30am and 10.40am, two choirs from Well Green Primary School and one each from Forest Park Preparatory School, St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School, Pictor Academy, Loreto Preparatory School, Forest Preparatory School and Bowdon Preparatory School, will entertain audiences.

That afternoon, between 1.30pm and 2.45pm, Children under seven from Altrincham Preparatory School, Forest Park Preparatory School and Forest Preparatory School will raise the roof, followed by under nines from Loreto Preparatory School, Bowdon Preparatory School and Altrincham Preparatory School.

The afternoon will end with under-lls from Loreto Preparatory School and Altrinchm Preparatory school singing their hearts out.

During the final day, Thursday, March 15, Orchestras and Instrumental Groups will perform from 9.30am to noon.

They will include Loreto Preparatory School’s orchestra, string ensemble and recorders.

Bowdon Preparatory School’s Samba Band orchestra, recorders, and Brass section, Hale Preparatory School’s Orchestra and Ukulele Band, Forest Preparatory School’s Recorders, Altrincham Preparatory School’s orchestra, Holy Family’s RC Primary’s samba band and Springfield Primary School’s Guitar Group.

James said: “We would like to thank Trafford Borough Council and Seamons Moss Trust for their sponsorship and to invite people to attend the final concert at 6.30pm on Thursday.”