Entries for the annual competitive Woking Music Festival will close on Sunday (4 October).

The festival, to be held in November, is a celebration of the musical and literary vitality of Woking and the surrounding area.

It welcomes people of all ages and abilities who can derive and give pleasure in participating, whatever their tastes or performing standard.

This year is the centenary celebration of music and drama in Woking.

Founded by Nancy Leigh in 1926 and affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals, the festival is now one of the largest of its kind in the south-east with about 1,000 people taking part each year.

Highly respected teachers and performers act as adjudicators, giving valuable advice and guidance to all participants.

There are also trophies to be won (more than 90 in all, including the prestigious Most Promising Singer and Most Promising Young Actor Awards and the Woking Junior Musician of the Year.)

In early February 2027, it organises the Woking Young Musician of the Year competition with outstanding performers aged 14-20 from the previous year’s festival being invited to participate.

Several of these performers have gone on to be in the finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition and, in recent years, two have won this coveted title.

This year’s festival will be from 6-29 November, with classes staged at venues including Woking High School, St Andrew’s Halstead School and St John’s Church, St John’s.

For further details on how to enter as a performer, please visit wokingmusicfestival.org.uk, and follow the links to the syllabus and entry forms.

All entries should be received by 6pm on 4 October. Payment of entry fees will be by bank transfer or cheque and should have been completed by 5 October. Please allow time for cheques sent in the post to arrive.