Talented performers will be celebrated when the Mrs Sunderland Festival begins next week.
And the historic festival, which will run from February 19 to 28 at Huddersfield Town Hall, hopes to strike the right note with young musicians when it unveils new contests.
To celebrate its 126th year, it has included a new ukulele category and a battle of the bands.
Strummers of all ages will be able to enter the ukulele competition, which was created following a boom in popularity of the instrument.
Meanwhile, the new band contest has been brought in by the traditionally classical event in a bid to recognise diverse genres such as hip-hop, pop, reggae and rock.
Also new to the festival is a Sing Asian concert, which will bring together 700 Kirklees children will in the Concert Hall on Thursday, February 26.
And a new website has been set up for the event, to encourage a new younger generation to come along and watch.
This year welcomes the arrival of new president, Ray Brown, who was elected after former incumbent Michael Hampshire stepped down last year.
He has been involved with the festival for five years, which is run by volunteers.
Dozens of classes will be held throughout the week, that embrace singing, classical instruments and poetry.
Some of the more traditional events include a German Lieder, dialect poetry and a bible reading class.
The event will end with a gala concert featuring a performance by the Kirklees Young Musician of the Year.
Ray said: “Our aim remains to provide a platform to assist the development of performers, of all ages, in a friendly and supportive environment.
“We endeavour to make performance at the festival an enjoyable experience for all, and we have once again found very highly qualified adjudicators who will provide constructive feedback to all performers.
“Visitors to the festival will experience professional performance from amateur performers, on a professional platform.
“This year the Singing Workshop ‘Sing Asian’ has really captured peoples imagination and 700 Kirklees children will be gathering in the Concert Hall on February 26 to become a huge choir.
“I suspect the energy will be felt in the street outside.
“We are indebted to our volunteers, to Thom Meredith of the Kirklees Music School and the ONE 17 Design Charitable Trust and hope that many members of the public come to give the performers an experience of playing to a large audience.
Tickets for the gala concert can be bought via the festival’s website, www.mrssunderlandfestival.com and on the door for the category performances.
