Talent showcase: Godalming Performing Arts Festival

Liz Allard tells us what to expect as this year’s extravaganza gets under way later this month celebrating the best of young local talent

The Godalming Performing Arts Festival is held each year in February and March and provides performance opportunities for students of all ages in dance, music and speech & drama.

As usual, this year the dance element will be the first event in the festival held between 17th and 22nd February at St Catherine’s School, Bramley, in their splendid auditorium. The dance classes will be a visual feast as they include solos, duets, trios/quartets and larger groups in various different genres such as ballet, contemporary, jazz, musical theatre and tap. There is something there for everybody. Music, which covers events for piano, organ, strings, and wind & brass, is scheduled at various dates and venues between 2nd and 23rd March in and around Godalming, with Speech & Drama classes held on 16th March at St Hilary’s School in Godalming.

Tickets available

Audiences are always welcome, with admission charges from £3 for adults (children free), with full details of the festival timetable and venues on our website: Godalming Performing Arts Festival

Competitive music festivals like this have an important role in education allowing performances in front of an audience and to obtain feedback from an expert adjudicator, a valuable experience which can build confidence. Early practice at performing in public is especially important for students considering a career in the performing arts , and many past participants at Godalming have entered the profession. For example, the 2025 organ adjudicator, Jonathan Hope, was a teenage competitor and is now Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral. Some competitors in previous festivals now teach and send their own pupils to participate. Adult amateurs are also catered for, with classes for all levels of attainment.  

Minimum pressure, maximum encouragement

Not everyone enjoys a competitive setting, and with that in mind the current syllabuses for the music sections now include non-competitive classes designed to give minimum pressure and maximum encouragement to all students. There are non-competitive classes aimed at those taking the Associated Board grade exams, and also classes for small ensemble performances (2-9 players) which can be treated as practice for GCSE music syllabus.   

The Godalming Festival is run by a committee of volunteers who take on various portfolios. Chairman Mike Goodridge explains: “Our festival relies on the good services of numerous volunteers, without whom this festival could not take place.  I hope that the volunteers get enjoyment in knowing that they are supporting budding artistic young people and can listen to their music, watch their dance and listen to their speech. The young participants get so much out of it, which gives great satisfaction to our volunteers who don’t necessarily have to be musicians themselves.” 

Get involved

As the scope of the festival continues to grow, we are always looking for people to join in the organisation and stewards are always required to successfully run the events. If you are interested in getting involved in any way with the festival, contact details are on our website: Godalming Performing Arts Festival