Haydn Wood was born in Slaithwaite on March 25, 1882.

He studied violin in 1897 at the Royal College of Music with Enrique Fernández Arbós and composition with Charles Villiers Stanford.

In 1901, Wood was the soloist at a special concert commemorating the opening of the Royal College of Music’s Concert Hall.

The concert was attended by Joseph Joachim and Pablo de Sarasate. They were so impressed that they sent him to Brussels for study with the renowned teacher César Thomson.

Wood then embarked on a world tour, accompanying the Canadian soprano Dame Emma Albani, and they continued their association for a further eight years.

From 1913 to 1926 he toured extensively with the soprano Dorothy Court whom he married in 1909.

The BBC broadcast a concert of Wood’s music to mark his 70th birthday.

He died in London in 1959, aged 76.

YOUNG musicians have been invited to follow in the footsteps of a Colne Valley great.

Entries are now open for this year’s Haydn Wood Musical Festival.

The annual event, now in its 53rd year, is named after the internationally renowned Slaithwaite composer.

Young people have until October 1 to enter the competition, which takes place at Linthwaite Methodist Church Centre on November 8, 9 and 10.

Barry Fearnley is one of 11 people who help organise the annual event.

He said yesterday: “We’re trying to encourage young people to take part. I think it’s the only music festival which caters for everyone up to the age of 21.

“A lot of the young people who take part go on to compete at Mrs Sunderland and some go on to study music at university.”

Mr Fearnley added that participants benefited from the feedback provided at the festival.

“It’s good for them to perform in public and it’s also good fro them to be adjudicated,” he said.

“Our adjudicators are very kind, they do try to help rather than just criticise.”

Entry forms are available from Dawsons Music Shop at Market Street, Octave Above in Moldgreen or from Maureen Stead via mostead@btinternet.com