Young musicians of age 18 and under and of all grades and levels are invited to apply for Saffron Walden Music Festival.
The festival will be held at Saffron Hall from November 17 to November 19, with entries open until Friday, October 20.
Organised by seven volunteering musicians, the festival has sections including percussion, jazz, piano, guitar, brass, strings, woodwind and voice.
There are ensemble classes in all sections, where groups of up to 10 young people can perform together.
In previous years, groups have performed as guitar trios, chamber string groups, small vocal groups, a sibling piano duo and a family group with brass and oboe.
Ensembles will be entered into the most appropriate section depending on the instruments involved.
The festival is in the style of BBC Young Musician, with certificates, medals and trophies awarded along with cups for the final winners.
All participants will receive individual written feedback on their performance from a panel of specialist adjudicators.
The festival culminates in a free finale concert in Saffron Hall at 6pm on Sunday, November 19, where the seven section winners will perform again - and one of them will be awarded the Saffron Walden Music Festival Cup.
Notable musicians from the rest of the festival will also perform, including the winners of the Jazz Trophy and Jazz Ellie Morrow Trophy.
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The highest-placed instrumental finalist and vocalists have the opportunity to represent the music festival at the Rotary Young Musician Competition.
Earlier this year last year's winning vocalist Leila Daw was runner-up in the regional heats of the Rotary competition, and violinist Sakura Fish secured a place in the national Rotary final.
The festival is supported by Saffron Walden High School, Rotary in Saffron Walden and the Essex Community Foundation.
Organiser Hilary Curtis said: "Now in our 11th year we hope to attract over 200 young people of all standards, from pre-Grade 1 to post-Grade 8, not only those who aspire to have careers in music but also those who just love playing or singing and will go on to have their lives enriched by music."
To enter go to https://www.swchs.net/page/?title=Saffron+Walden+Music+Festival+2023&pid=60.
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