MUSIC LIVE: The AGM for Stratford Music Live takes place on Wednesday at 7.30pm at Stratford Music Centre, Stratford College, and all musicians are warmly invited to attend.

Having been awarded a grant from the Town Trust after the 2002 Festival, it has been decided that it should be run as an annual part of Stratford's musical life, to show how live music is flourishing in the district. This year's festival is going to take a slightly different format in that events are going to be run over a number of weeks, starting with a rock showcase for young groups at the Civic Hall on Friday, May 16, followed by a large number of performances over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15, including a massed brass band concert, again at the Civic Hall and performances at the Guild Chapel and Holy Trinity Church.

The final event of the festival will be a return visit from the Hungarian choir who sang in last year's festival concert, and that will be on Saturday, June 28, in Holy Trinity Church. The ethos of the festival will remain the same, that live music is something to celebrate, and all musicians taking part will give their talents free of charge, in return for which all audiences will not pay a penny to hear them.

If you are interested in taking part but can't make the AGM on January 15, then do contact Jenny Barrie, the co-ordinator, telephone 01789 269566, or e-mail jenny.barrie@wilmcote.globalnet.co.uk.