BOLTON will be alive with the sound of music as talented performers take to the stage for the annual four-day festival.

Bolton Music Centre Presents will launch on Tuesday, March 28, at the Victoria Hall and this year will see the inaugural Bolton Choirs Festival taking place on Saturday, April 1.

A spokesman for Bolton Music Service said: “Music Centre Presents is one of the highlights of our musical year and gives us a chance to celebrate the work of the weekly bands, choirs and orchestras of Bolton Music Service.

“We have over 35 ensembles playing and seven schools taking part, which will mean that almost 1,200 children will perform in The Victoria Hall. We hope that the people of Bolton will come to the concert and support the talented young musicians of Bolton.”

The concert will open with performances from eight ensembles and finish on Friday with seven bands.

The spokesman added: “This year sees our spring concert season finishing with the inaugural Bolton Choirs Festival where choirs from our area will be taking part in this non-competitive festival and will be given feedback from a choral expert, Manvinder Rattan, who was a judge on Gareth Malone’s BBC series The Choir.

“The day will conclude with a performance and workshop at 5pm by nationally acclaimed ensemble, The Gesualdo Six. Bolton Music Service and the charity Trust Music have joined in partnership to celebrate the richness of choral singing in our area.”

The concert will open with performances from eight ensembles and finish on Friday with seven bands. Those taking part will include Harwood Meadows, Ladybridge and Turton Junior Strings, Bolton Boys’ Choir, as well as the many different Bolton Music Centre ensembles.

Performances start at 6.30pm and finish at around 8.30pm.

Tickets are available, at £5 from ticketsource.co.uk/boltonmusicservice

Tickets for the choir festival are £6, from ticketsource.co.uk/trust-music Children’s admission is free.