ALMOST 7000 performers aged between five and 90 are preparing to take to the stage in this year’s Glasgow Music Festival.

The annual event is now in its 107th year and is one of the biggest festivals in the UK.

The 10-day extravaganza, which kicks off tonight, is a showcase of musical talent which includes choirs, soloists, classical performers and jazz bands.

This year’s festival will see musicians and artists take to the stage at four venues in the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow plus Renfield St Stephen’s Church which will also host competitors.

Beryl Fisher, chairman of Glasgow Music Festival, is responsible for pulling together the detailed programme for the event which runs between March 6 and 16.

She said: “This year is going to be the 107th festival, they didn’t compete during the war, but it has been going quite a long time.

“When it first started it was mainly soloists who took part, but now we have choirs, concert bands, brass bands, community choirs and even jazz bands.

“There’s close on 7000 performers, we are one of the biggest festivals in the UK.

The youngest we have would be in the under 7s category and we have a lady in one of the community choirs and she’s in her 90s.”

Each performer receives a certificate for taking part and 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners also receive a certificate.

Mrs Fisher, who trained as a singer at the Royal Music College in Wales, is now based in Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire.

Now retired, she is responsible for hiring accompanists, adjudicators and ensuring sheet music is available for thousands of performers.

Pieces performed include classical, opera, jazz and German lieder and under-18 categories.

But the origins of the festival in solo performance is also a key part of the festival.

She said: “It was very much choral at the beginning, but we are embracing everything now”

Participants can win some monetary prizes, including £100 for the winner of the piano class and £500 for the Ailie Cullen prize which goes to the most outstanding performer.

But Mrs Fisher says the event is not about prizes and is about taking part.

She said: “We do have some monetary awards, but it’s really more a platform for the performer and they all get a performance certificate.”