Young musicians are flocking to new events planned for the Mrs Sunderland Festival.

Two major workshops have now sold out or are close to full capacity, three months before the event begins at Huddersfield Town Hall on February 18.

Some 800 children will pack into the sold out Sing, Swing and Sign children’s sign language event at the concert hall on February 25, where they will perform dances and songs taught to them in advance.

Billed as one of the top events to watch, it will be led by Kirklees Music School principal Tom Meredith and Paul Whittaker OBE who founded Music and the Deaf for people with hearing problems.

Ray Brown, the festival chairman, said: The Town Hall Concert Hall cannot accommodate any more. “Some Special Needs Children will be attending which is a wonderful enhancement for the event.

“We are grateful to The ONE 17 Charitable Trust for supporting this event.”

A new adults singing workshop and performance called The Armed Man is also close to capacity, which will go ahead on February 21.

A total of 280 people will take part in a full day of learning the pieces, created by Sir Karl Jenkins, before going on stage with the backing of a symphony orchestra and soloists.

Ray said: “Only a few places are left so anyone interested should book now.”

Audience tickets are also now available.

For next year Ray and his team have decided to make the annual special needs day on February 24 even bigger.

“It will be much larger this year and encompass a wider blend of music and dance, and involve more Special Needs Schools”, said Ray.

“It is wonderful to see the impact that singing and dance has on these wonderful children”.

Adults and children wanting to enter into the festival’s competition classes have until November 14 to do so.

They can enter into 95 classes and workshops covering disciplines as diverse as classical, Disney songs, jazz and poetry readings, which celebrate the diverse talent in the area.

Entrants aged between 16 and 25 can also enter the prestigious Kirklees Musician of the Year competition, whose prize includes a cash prize.

Participants must have been born in Kirklees, have lived in Kirklees for a minimum of five years or be following a music course at a College of Further or Higher Education in Kirklees.

For more information and to enter, go to www.mrssunderlandfestival.com