THE Lady Mayoress of Bradford is to hold up her own Festival of Talent to showcase children and young people in the performing arts across the Bradford district.

Elizabeth Sharp, who is also the long-serving secretary of Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts, says she has been struck by the number of children and young people who have hugeamounts of talent as she has visited schools since becoming Lady Mayoress.

She said: “I wish to provide them with an opportunity to showcase their talent in a free-to-enter competition, that will climax in as ‘showbiz’ a final as we can create, to take place in the Henry Mitchell Theatre in Bradford College in earlyMarch.”

The Lady Mayoress Festival of Talent will be divided into three age groups, she says - aimed at primary, secondary and further education establishments throughout the Bradford Metropolitan District.

Each winner will take part in the Schools Proms at St George’s Hall on March 25 and 26.

They will receive a trophy, a certificate, an opportunity to perform at a Lord Mayor civic event, and afternoon tea for themselves and their families in City Hall with the Lady Mayoress.

The rules say the performances must be to a maximum of three minutes, and can be in singing, dance, instrumental music playing, drama or comedy. They can be presented as solo, duos, trios, quartets, or as groups, bands or choirs.

“The only stipulation is that the performances are student-led, created by the performers themselves. While their support and advice is encouraged, teachers should have no input in the creative process,” said Mrs Sharp.

The closing date for entries is Friday, November 7, and Mrs Sharp, who lives in Menston, is now looking forward to seeing young performers from across the Bradford District taking part in the major talent showcase.

She added: “I envisage this to be a high-profile event that in the later stages, semi-finals and finals, will raise money for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal as tickets will be sold to the general public and to all supporters.

“You may already know that the Lord Mayor’s Appeal this year is supporting Marie Curie and a community-based project of his devising called Make It Happen, in which small sums of money are donated to help people less advantaged to create something good for themselves, and to fulfil, if possible, cherished ambitions, such as leading the Bradford City Football Team on to the pitch at Valley Parade.”

Contact Bradford Music Education Hub Service at: bradford musiconline.co.uk/site/lady-mayoress-festival-of-talent/ to register to take part.