MUSICIANS, dancers and actors come from all over the country to perform in the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival which has more than 1,000 entries this year.

Festival organisers say the standard of entries are as high as ever in this year’s 120th event.

Festival secretary Elaine Lee, from Almondbury, said: “It’s lovely to see people taking such enjoyment from the performing arts.

“We’re pleased to give people, both young and old, a platform to gain valuable performing experience.

“It’s a big festival so they know they’re going to be up against a high standard of performer.”

Among the winners was Thomas Ramsay who clinched the Huddersfield Examiner Rose Bowl.

The 13-year-old, from Halifax, said he was delighted to win the accolade for his performance of Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy.

Thomas has been going to drama school since he was just four-years-old and often takes part in the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival.

He said: “I love musical theatre – I’m obsessed with it.

“I want to be a theatre director when I’m older.

“I think Mrs Sunderland is great and the standard is really high so it’s great to be part of.”

The Mrs Sunderland Music Festival began on Friday and runs through to Saturday.

The event is held at Huddersfield Town Hall and St Paul’s Hall and includes singing, bands, choirs, poetry and piano competitions.

The competition continues today with piano classes, judged by Timothy Barratt, music professor at the Royal Academy.

He said: “The standard of piano playing is extremely high and it is a very well-run festival.

“There are great acoustics in the hall and it is such an occasion to listen to music in there. It’s very good to see the young people performing great music.

“Winning is not always the most important thing and it’s good to be able to give the performers constructive feed-back.”

The festival was established in 1889 in honour of Yorkshire soprano soloist, Susan Sunderland.

Now in its 120th year it is one of the North’s largest and most prestigious music festivals.

Chairman Michael Hampshire said: “We are grateful for the continued support of sponsors and friends, which makes it possible for us to use the magnificent venues of Huddersfield Town Hall and the University of Huddersfield.”

THE results from yesterday’s piano and speech and drama classes are as follows:

Piano Solo School Year 3 and under: 1 Jimmy Harding, Birkenshaw, 2 Sejal Dhebri, Stalybridge and Daisy Cameron, Kirkheaton, 3 Alice Critchlow, Shepley and Sarah Harris, Stalybridge

Piano Solo School Year 4 and under: 1, Mollie Davidson, Clayton, 2 Maya Watson, Birkenshaw, 3 Kitty Cameron, Kirkheaton

Piano Solo School Year 5 and under. 1. Lorscyon Frampton-Clarke, Huddersfield; 2. Matthew Rhodes, Scholes and Mollie Davidson,Clayton; 3. Lewis Roberts, Roberttown and Rahul Kumbhani.

Piano Solo School Year 6 and under. 1.Matthew Field, Clifton; 2. Lydia Wyatt, Rastrick; 3. Megan Holch, Pontefract

Piano Solo School Year 8 and under. 1. Lydia Wyatt, Rastrick, 2.Thomas Hardy, Leeds, 3. Freya Smith, Meltham

Piano Solo School Year 10 and under. 1. Oliver McHugh, Ripponden; 2. Alan Ma, Honley, 3.William Proud, Holmfirth

Piano Solo School Year 12 and under. 1. Catrin Pryce-Jones, Ripponden; 2. Katrina Lee, Birchencliffe; 3. Alexandra Condon, Bradford.

Verse Speaking School Year 3 and under. 1. Jolie Rooks, Stage 84; 2. Maddie Hodges, Stafe 84; 3.Amelia Elgie, Stage 84

Verse Speaking School Year 4 and under. 1. Madeleine Coldwell, Stage 84; 2. Hannah Boden, Honely Junior School; 3. Imogen Davey, Marsden and Eve Sugden, Honley

Verse Speaking School Year 5 and under. 1. Caragh Casserly, Stage 84, Bethany Grange, Stage 84, Brittany Martin, Stage 84.

Prepared Reading School Year 3 and under. 1. Benjamin Peace, Skelmanthorpe; 2. Elizabeth Torley, Brockholes; 3. Grace Garner, Beaumont Park

Prepared Reading School Years 5 and under. 1. Brittany Martin, Stage 84; 2.Bethany Grange, Stage 84; Caragh Casserly, Stage 84

Dramatic Solo School Year 6 and under. 1. Caragh Casserky, Stage 84; 2. Brittany Martin, Stage 84, 3.Francesca Merritt, AD Astra Academy and Reece Geisler, Lindley.

Dramatic Duologue School Year 6 and under. 1. Caragh Casserly and Brittany Martin, Stage 84

Prepared Reading School years 9 and under. 1. Thomas ramsay, Stage 84, 2. Matthew Slingsby, Stage 84, 3. Sadie Karpov, Stage 84

Verse Speaking School Year 6 and under. 1. Millie Hodges, Stage 84; 2. Emily Wright, Stage 84 and Mercedes Brown, Taylor Hill; 3. Olivia Midgley, Stage 84

Verse Speaking School years 8 and under; 1.Harriet Davey, Marsden; 2. Matthew Slingsby, Stage 84; 3. Anya Hawthorne Peel, Stage 84