The programme for this year's Festival is now available for download:

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The syllabus for this year is available here:

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For anyone who requested the services of Jamie Harris, our accompanist - please send accompanist parts to jamie.harris287@googlemail.com at the earliest opportunity to allow time to arrange practises.

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Entries are OPEN, closing 15th January. Please contact the Chairman directly with any issues.

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PLEASE NOTE THE DATE FOR THE FESTIVAL HAD BEEN INCORRECTLY STATED AS THE 3rd/4th OF MARCH - PLEASE NOTE CORRECT DATES (AS HAD BEEN CORRECTLY STATED IN THE SYLLABUS) OF FRIDAY 15th (CHOIR'S DAY) AND SATURDAY 16th MARCH (MAIN FESTIVAL).

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Southampton Festival of Music and Drama was established in 1926, and has been providing a wide range of competitive music classes for both children and adults ever since. It has inspired the careers of many musicians and music teachers throughout the years and is a key landmark in the UK Festival Scene. Taking part in March at Thornden School, it attracts entrants from a wide area. Outstanding performances are selected for the Festival Concert which is held in Thornden Hall on a suitable date after the Festival is complete.

A Message from the Chairman

We are back at Thornden Hall as a live festival for 2024.

Over the past few years, it has been an exceedingly difficult time for everyone involved in music making and
drama. Choirs have not been able to rehearse, many music and drama lessons have gone on-line. Many
children have not been able to have lessons.

However, music and drama are supposed to be live experiences, and so we are very pleased, in this our 97th
year, to be able to return again as a live festival. The opportunities gained by performing in front of a live
audience are immeasurable, both in enjoyment and also in the confidence gained by the performer.

Finances for all have been very tough and so we have made the difficult decision to hold the main Festival on
one day only, Saturday 16th March, with our choirs day on Friday 15th of March 2023. By doing
this we are hoping to keep the Festival as a financially viable concern. We will also be only issuing PDF
versions of the programme to cut costs.

Festivals such as ours take a great deal of organising and would not happen without the work of our
dedicated section administrators, committee members and volunteers who give freely of their time to make
sure this event happens.

Once again thank you to everyone who has supported the Festival, especially over the last three years. I know
that with everyone’s enthusiasm for this amazing event and your continued support and help, we can look
forward knowing that future generations will gain as much enjoyment from the Festival as we have.

Shelagh Lee