THE countdown is already under way for the next Mrs Sunderland Music Festival which will fill Huddersfield with words and music next February.

Entries close tomorrow for next year’s festival, which runs from Friday, February 15, to February 23.

During the festival performers will compete in individual and group classes for everything from verse-speaking and poetry writing to playing an instrument or singing.

The festival was founded in 1889 and named in honour of Brighouse-born soprano Susan Sunderland.

It has expanded to the stage where it now includes a wide range of vocal solo classes, plus sections for adult and junior choirs, piano, brass, woodwind, recorder, strings and percussion, as well as school orchestras and bands.

Many of the events are based in Huddersfield Town Hall and entrants for past festivals have ranged in age from eight to 80.

Syllabuses are available from Dolphin Music on Huddersfield’s Market Street and at the information centre in Albion Street.

Details are also available on the festival website www.mrs-sunderlandmusic.org.uk or from the secretary on 01484 450321.