The Isle of Wight Music, Dance and Drama Festival (IWMDDF) 2024 is now underway, featuring three weeks of music, dance, speech and drama classes.

This is the 94th festival, with the event being held every year since 1924 – except for the war years. It was previously called the Isle of Wight Musical Competition Festival.

The County Press would love to see photos of the winners doing their final rehearsals or celebrating their results, and we hope to show case as many as possible in the newspaper and online.

Isle of Wight County Press: Some of the successful entrants at the Isle of Wight Music, Dance and Drama Festival 2023Some of the successful entrants at the Isle of Wight Music, Dance and Drama Festival 2023 (Image: Contributions)

How to send your IWMDDF to the Isle of Wight County Press!

To send us your photos, either scroll down to find our submission form, email us at editor@iwcp.co.uk with IWMDDF in the subject line, or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Read more: Early winners at Isle of Wight Music, Dance and Drama Festival 2024

The only festival of its kind on the Island, IWMDDF provides an opportunity for public performance in a supportive environment with constructive feedback designed to encourage young people and adults to improve and achieve their potential.

All classes are judged by paid professional national and international adjudicators, who provide all entrants with a written assessment of their performances.

The first batch of winners at this year’s festival are already celebrating, after the competition got underway yesterday (Sunday).

Isle of Wight County Press: Ruby Hart with her winners trophyRuby Hart with her winners trophy

Ruby Hart, 10, who attends Priory School, won her prose speaking solo class with a score of 87.

A student of Jeni Law, Ruby loves her speech and drama lessons, and is delighted with her performance.

Also taught by Jeni Law, Elkie MacGregor, 7, won the 8-9 years prose speaking with Charlotte's Web - scoring 87 - and the 6-7 years verse speaking with sock song - scoring 90 marks.

Elkie also took home third place in the 9-11 years dramatic scene class, performing The Princess and The Swineherd. 

She is said to be "happy shocked" to have achieved her first and third place finishes.

Isle of Wight County Press: Elkie MacGregor who took place two first place awards and a third placeElkie MacGregor who took place two first place awards and a third place (Image: Contributions)