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Organisers of this year’s Wimmera Music Eisteddfod have been faced with a ‘huge’ logistics challenge, thanks to significant growth in entries for next month’s event.

Organiser Venetia Elbourne-Hobbs said the number of entries had grown extensively from 2019, creating a need to extend the eisteddfod by an extra day.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response from both local and non-local competitors,” she said.

“As always, the vocal sections are very well supported, but there’s also been a large increase in the number of piano entries this year.

“Because of this, we have dedicated the newly added Sunday afternoon and evening to piano alone. There are still some piano sections taking place on Thursday, but a large number of them have been moved from the original schedule to Sunday.”

Among the new additions to this year’s Wimmera Music Eisteddfod is the Ann Adler Memorial event for both primary and secondary school students. 

“We are very excited to be able to have a specific event in the competition named after and in honour of one of Horsham’s much-loved piano teachers,” Mrs Elbourne-Hobbs said. 

“There are 20 students across both age groups participating in this event, which is fantastic for its first year.”

New additions also include ‘Open Christmas in July’, with winners going on to perform at Horsham Carols By Candlelight and the Linda O’Brien Piano Championship event.

“The committee really wanted a section that would challenge skilled pianists to perform something from the heart and preferably without music, so we created the Linda O’Brien Piano Championship event,” Mrs Elbourne-Hobbs said.  

“We are very fortunate to have Linda as an accompanist this year, so she will be presenting the championship award to the winner on the Thursday evening.” 

Wimmera Music Eisteddfod now runs from July 22 to 25, at Horsham Church of Christ. 

People can visit website www.wimmeraeisteddfod.com for more information.