New qualification rules for Guild contestants
Finalists for one of the highest accolades in Manx music will be judged differently at this year's Guild.
Organisers for the Manx Music Speech and Dance Festival are altering the structure of the classes that provide the line-up for the Cleveland Medal Test.
Known as one of the highest singing honours on the Island, previous Cleveland final years have benn made up from the winners of the six 'special' solo classes, including soprano, baritone and bass.
However, this year's Guild will see the three women with the highest marks and the three highest-marked men in the 'special' vocal classes go forward to compete on Finals Night.
Festival Secretary Jacqueline Yates says the changes should guarantee another hotly-contested showpiece with an extremely high standard.
The 2019 festival takes place between 27 April and 4 May at the Villa Marina.
Entries to all classes close on Saturday 9 February.
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