Ref. 29664-4SWINDON Music Festival is in full swing and scores of talented musicians are taking part.

Violinist Laura Clarke, 14, who attends Commonweal School, showed off her talents at the Arts Centre, in Devizes Road, yesterday.

She said: "This is my second music festival and it's great fun."

Laura played Paragon Rag by Scott Joplin, in keeping with the jazz theme.

More than 30 under 17-year-olds took part in the jazz piano and string classes, which form part of the musical festivities.

During the classes, one of the adjudicators, Jeffrey Wilson, also took a jazz workshop. Mr Wilson is a teacher at Junior Guildhall and member of the music faculty at Cambridge University. He has been composer in residence in more than 12 European cities and played with top orchestras, including the London Festival Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia.

This year, the festival, which runs until April 3, has attracted more than 800 entries from local musicians, singers and composers.

Each entrant is marked by an adjudicator and a gold medal plaque or trophy will be awarded if the winner of a class tops 84 marks.

Festival vice-chairwoman Sheila Marcer has helped organise the event for 25 years .

She said: "This is the 95th festival and it's still going strong. It's a great opportunity for people of all ages to perform and get feedback."

If you fancy hearing some of the action, there are three championship concerts within the festival.

The first is an instrumental evening, including the instrumental championship and awarding of the Challenge Cup next Tuesday, from 6.30pm. Admission is £3, or 50p for children. The Junior Vocal Championship and the awarding of the RG Cripps Challenge Cup is on Friday, April 2, starting at 6.30pm. The event includes a performance of songs from shows and films. The same admission charges apply.

Ending on a high note, a final grand concert, including the senior championship and awarding of the Free Council Challenge Cup, will take place on Saturday, April 3, from 6.30pm.

Admission costs £4, or 50p for children. For more information call 01793 614837.

Victoria Tagg