YOUNG violinists were among the musicians who took part in this year’s Ramsbottom Music Festival.

The festival, now in its 26th year, staged its usual schools day at Woodhey High School, on Friday, followed by individual performances all day on Saturday at Greenmount Primary School and Greenmount United Reformed Church.

More than 500 children took part in the event, which saw both choirs and individual performances from musicians.

Among the winners were Hazlehurst Primary School's Brass Band, which won the Rotary Trophy, and St. Bernadette’s RC School, Whitefield, which took first prize in both the Primary School Recorder Ensemble and Primary Choirs Part singing classes.

Festival secretary, Chris Hopkinson, said: “We pack a lot into the two days, and keep it as compact as possible. It varies from year to year but we had just short of 200 performances in total this year.”

Musicians could choose to perform as a competitor, and a selection of prize winners have been asked to return to a gala performance at Greenmount United Reformed Church from 6.30pm on Saturday night.

There, special awards will be presented to the most promising entrants in each discipline, and the overall most promising performer of the festival will be selected. 

Mr Hopkinson said: “There are some fantastically talented musicians out there. We have seen some phenomenal performances take place.”

Festival chair Mary Crehan said: “It was an outstanding success. The standard was very high and it was very well attended."