Rochdale Youth Festival of Performing Arts

Rochdale Youth Festival of Performing Arts

The Rochdale Youth Festival of Performing Arts comes to a climax this weekend after over three weeks of performances put on by youngsters throughout the Rochdale borough.

The festival, which is in its 27th year, brings together a variety of performers and performance styles. This year has seen a range of performances including drama, choral singing, brass, wind and dance.

Festival organiser Peter Reynoldson said: “This year has gone very well and has been very successful. It has been full of variety and that is something we try and do each year.”

The festival is held annually throughout the month of February/March and is administered through the Rochdale Music Service on behalf of the Rochdale Schools Service.

As well as performances, the festival includes a number of classes both competitive and non-competitive.

Peter added: “I can’t really pinpoint any particular highlights. There are too many really. Lots of things have gone on.”

Schools taking part this year have included Kentmere Primary School, Hamer Community Primary School and Wardle Academy.

Peter has been involved with the festival for seven years and has been organising the festival for five years. He said: “It is nice to see the children get up and perform.”

The festival comes to an end this weekend with brass performances taking place at the Town Hall this evening (Friday 21 March) and two Music for Youth concerts taking place at the weekend, also at the Town Hall.

Peter is already planning for the 2015 Rochdale Youth Festival of Performing Arts. He said: “I’ve already started planning the next one. It is a lot of hard work and a long process but it is certainly worth it.”