A PRELIMINARY event has got this year’s Petersfield Musical Festival off to a wonderful start.

The biennial Young Composers Competition, run by the festival team, was held in the Studio theatre at The Petersfield School (TPS), and saw young composers from a number of schools, including TPS, Ditcham Park School, Alton School and Royal Holloway College, perform.

Adjudicators Alexandra Harwood and Philip Young agreed with their colleague Jonathan Willcocks, when he commented that composing was a slow burn process, but the fulfilment, when it comes, is a wonderful thing.

All the compositions were highly commended for their originality and creativity, and the entrants for their potential.

Once again the judges were impressed by the creative energy shown by the young people, said festival spokeswoman Marcia Fielden.

For more information about Petersfield Musical Festival, which runs from Friday, March 9, to Saturday, March 17, visit the website: www.petersfieldmusicalfestival.org.uk