SOUTH Cumbria Musical Festival opens on Sunday (March 18) with a new chairman and another terrific week of music making in prospect.

Running all week at Ulverston's Coronation Hall, Sunday's brass day features morning, afternoon and evening adjudicated sessions with heavyweights Dalton Town Band, Kirkby Lonsdale Brass Band and Ulverston Town Band going head-to-head for the sought after silverware in the final session of the first day.

Monday is speech day with poetry, readings and acting, and the New Westmorland Gazette Shield among the prizes up for grabs.

Tuesday will be packed with many of the region's young pianists and among Wednesday's instrumentalist classes will be a host of woodwind, string and percussion players.

Come Thursday and Friday potential star turns on the vocal front raise the roof of the Coronation Hall with an entertaining mix of school choir and vocal solo classes. Friday evening features adult vocal classes with performances of songs from shows and folk songs.

Saturday (March 24) begins with adult choirs Barrow Male Voice Choir, Ottovoco and the Ghyll Singers all in fine voice before the 2018 gathering of musical talent concludes in style with the much-awaited Gala Night held at the Coronation Hall (7.30pm), starring a line-up of special guest artistes and the Esther C Croskery and Aprille C Bonner Performance Award.

With well over 100 adjudicated classes featuring scores of talented youngsters and amateur performers, the highly respected competitive festival once again promises to be a wonderful seven-day feast of music and song.

Meanwhile, other news about this year's festival - the 42nd: Keith Butcher has handed over the chairman's mantle to Bob McClean.

Tickets for Gala Night are available on 01229-584653, or from the Coronation Hall or on 07773-403686 during festival week.

Festival programmes are available from Ulverston Library and The Full Octave, Tudor Square, Dalton.