Hastings Musical Festival goes virtual for 2021

General secretary Jenny Griffiths said: “Hastings Musical Festival has been going since 1908 and we are not going to let COVID defeat us! However because of the ongoing restrictions and uncertainty due to COVID, we have decided to run the 2021 Hastings Musical Festival as a virtual festival.

“We will be running most of our classes in all four sections (dancing, singing, instrumental and speech and drama) and will have independent and experienced adjudicators as usual, but entries will be recordings sent to the Festival, and competitors will be able to view the other performances in their class online. We hope to be able to hold a highlights concert later in the year if COVID restrictions allow and hopefully will be back in the White Rock Theatre again for the 2022 Festival.”

Jenny added: “This will be a very unusual year, but we are doing what we can to ensure that the performers in the Hastings area have the opportunity to compete in our Festival this year and get as close as we can manage to the usual rewarding Festival experience.

“We are also adding extra classes in choreography, composition and even a class for pipe organs which we can only have virtually.

“There are new classes for drummers and lots of opportunities for all. Please support us with this exciting initiative. Look at our website www.hastingsmusicalfestival.org.uk for more information on how to enter and upload your videos and music scores.” Entries close on Jan 31 2021.

Originally a “festival for the encouragement of choral singing”, it quickly became a Musical Festival involving various branches of music. By 1910 there were 31 classes, 52 classes in 1919 and 102 by 1923. Now there are more than 500 classes.