The 2005 Croydon Music Festival starts this Friday with speech and drama adjudicated by Patricia Hammond.

During the whole weekend you will be able to hear many young people reciting verse and prose, as well as acting scenes.

On Sunday as well as speech and drama, auditions are taking place for the new Croydon concerto competition.

Young soloists about to embark on their professional careers will be auditioning for the semi-final at 6pm. The final will be on Sunday, June 19, at Fairfield.

On Wednesday, April 20 the Royal Russell School Orchestral Ensemble and several handbell teams compete and new compositions by young budding composers can be heard.

Young guitarists will be judged on Thursday, April 21, by Lee Sollery. Lee will also be leading a workshop that will include stagecraft, ideas for interpretation, technical development and sound colouring.

Eighteen young organists will have the opportunity of performing on the organ of the Parish Church on Saturday, April 23, starting at 1.30pm.Woodwind classes will take place at Whitgift School on the same day. String and harp categories are on the Sunday, April 24.

There are more events to come including brass, senior and junior vocal, south Asian music (carnatic and hindustani), percussion, steel bands, piano, senior choirs, junior choirs – all at Fairfield Concert Hall – and dance which is at the Ashcroft Theatre.

Brian Wilshere, local percussionist, will be giving a fun rhythm workshop on the evening of Wednesday, May 4.

All events are staged at Whitgift School, Haling Park, South Croydon, unless otherwise stated.

For more information call 020 8654 6713.