The “next generation of talent” will be competing for prizes at the Worthing Music and Arts Festival this month.

Singers, dancers, actors and instrumentalists are invited to classes with an audience to watch their performances.

Jan Spooner, the festival’s honorary secretary and singing teacher, says, “Entries are looking positive for this year. The standard of performers is really high.

“I encourage everyone to watch and stay a while, not just for the class that their grandchild is in, but to have a look at the other talent on offer.

“You never know: you may see somebody in their very early stages of fame.”

Past performers at the Worthing Music and Arts Festival have gone on to great things. Jennie Dale, who trained at the festival in singing, drama and dance, can now be seen in the West End playing the role of Deb in Elf.

Anouska Eaton, another past performer at the festival, has also gone on to perform in the West End, playing Baroness Elberfeld in The Sound Of Music.

Jan adds, “The festival survives by people coming to watch what the performers do - they are really quite phenomenal so it’s worth it.”

The festival takes place between Wednesday February 3 and Saturday March 12, kicking off with a wide range of dance classes for children aged four-15 on the Pavilion Theatre’s large stage from February 3-10. The dance section is always popular with the audience, according to Jan.

There is a piano and instrumental event on Thursday-Saturday February 11- 13 at the Emmanuel Church and Centre in St Michael’s Road, Worthing. Solo and ensemble classes for both brass and strings are available under the guidance of an experienced adjudicator.

Singing, one of the festival’s most prominent sections, takes place from Friday-Sunday February 19-21 at the Barn Theatre at Field Place in The Boulevard, Worthing, with the opportunity to sing a variety of styles such as classical lieder or Disney hits. There is a Singer of the Year competition where performers can qualify through multiple solo classes, and then a recital in front of a panel of judges. Cash prizes are awarded to the winners.

The speech and drama section at the Worthing Dome on Marine Parade has a variety of classes as well as Performer of the Year finals, which are reached through qualification in solo classes.

On Thursday March 3, the choirs section holds a Singfest in conjunction with the Mayor’s charity at the Assembly Hall in Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing.

The festival wraps up on Saturday March 12 with the Festival Highlights Concert.

* For full details, timetable information and forms, visit the festival office at Office 5, 27a Goring Road, Worthing, phone 01903 506 621, email wmaafoffice@gmail.com or visit wmaaf.co.uk. Tickets are available on the door at entry and cost £3/session ticket, £6/all day ticket, £6/dance admission ticket or £25/season ticket.