More than 1,200 to compete at Manx Music Festival

Hundreds of trophies are handed out during the week-long event

More than 1,200 people have been preparing to compete in this year's Manx Music Festival on the Isle of Man.

The festival, first held in 1892 and colloquially known as the Guild, runs from 27 April to 4 May predominantly at the Villa Marina in Douglas.

The climax will see solo finalists compete for the competition's top prize, the Cleveland Medal.

Chairman Anne Clarke said a new Little Stars non-competitive class for reception-age children would encourage "little ones to get up on stage and perform".

A ‘have a go’ class has for those who have never competed before has also been introduced for 2024, she said.

As well as classes held at the Villa Marina, some performances will take place at the nearby St Thomas’ Church next to the current Gaia art installation.

Celebration

This year sees the 50th anniversary of the Sheffield Plate, the top honour for children's solo singing.

To mark the occasion, the winner will receive a medal they would "get to keep forever" as well as becoming the holder of the plate for one year, Ms Clarke said.

Hundreds of trophies are handed out during the event and the team had been "furiously polishing them and getting them ship shape", she said.

She also encouraged those attending classes in the Royal Hall to take in the bronze statue of founder ML Wood, known as the Mother of Manx Music.

The figure, which had "presided over the Guild" on the edge of stage, has been attached to wooden plinth made out of salvaged spars from the Laxey Wheel, which will instead be positioned on the floor near to the trophies.

Ms Clarke said the fact that the festival was celebrating its 132nd year proved "how popular it still was".

Competitors from all age groups, between "four and well over 80", will be lining up to take part, she said.

The festival was still "very traditional" and a "celebration" of disciplines such as singing and poetry, despite some small changes and the modernisation of content in some of the classes, she added.

Recent additions to the schedule include stand-up comedy, drag and news reading.