FEARS have been raised over the future of a long-running music festival after entries plummeted.

Salisbury Young People’s Festival of Music, Drama and Dance, which started 30 years ago, has been struggling in recent years to gain enough entries, resulting in the 2013 concert being cancelled.

And despite organisers drumming up support and selecting a new venue, Sarum College, to ensure last year’s event was a success, costs weren’t covered because of low entries.

In a plea to save the festival, which provides budding musicians, dramatists and dancers the opportunity to perform in a non-exam environment, organisers have re-introduced Bishop Wordsworth School as a venue for the choirs. The Salisbury grammar school will host the junior prep choirs.

Chairman Sharon Chaldecott says more entries are instrumental to rescuing the festival from being scrapped.

“We have been struggling for the last few years due to a lack of entries – I know this trend is not limited to our festival but that doesn’t mean that we should just lie down and give up,” said Sharon. Salisbury is well known for its arts events and what we are trying to do is encourage and support our future artists.

“Performance experience is vital for any future artist and exams are not enough, especially as you only have an audience of one (the examiner) and they never applaud anyway!

“The Salisbury Young People’s Festival of Music, Dance and Drama, although a competition, is a performance situation that is supportive, friendly and encouraging – the audience is, after all, family and other entrants.”

The music festival will take place at Sarum College on Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1.

The drama and dance will again be staged at Studio Theatre on Sunday and Monday, March 8 and 9.

Entries can be submitted at sypf.org. Applications must be received by Friday, January 30.

For more information, contact Sharon on 01725 512489 or email chairman@sypf.org.