THIS year’s Taunton and Somerset Music and Drama Festival is well underway.

The festival, which runs every November, is now in its 99th year and encourages youngsters performing and enjoying music, speech and drama.

Music classes are held in piano, strings, woodwind, brass, recorders, composition and vocal held at Queen’s College and drama classes include verse speaking, prepared reading, public speaking, mime, and acting, which are held at Temple Methodist Church.

The Taunton Young Musician Competition attracted a record 20 entries, with up to seven finalists selected to play in the final held at Queens College on January 22.