THE Prescot Festival will showcase young, rising musical and artistic talent in June 2017. 

Primary and Secondary School children from across the borough of Knowsley will once again perform live in pursuit of the title of Young Instrumentalist of Prescot during this year's 10 day programme.

Sonny Fielding, a former St Edmund Arrowsmith student from Whiston, wowed judges 3 times to take the title and this year he's upping his game and appearing at the Royal Albert Hall, for the opening night of the BBC Proms.  He'll be singing as part of the City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus, also known as the BBC Proms Youth Choir.

The young tenor, now 18, has been studying at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music alongside his A Levels at Cronton College, and has received a scholarship to study singing at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, later in September (2017.)

Sonny Fielding, said:- "It was a great encouragement to be recognised for my musical talent through the Prescot Festival To be awarded the title of Young Instrumentalist three times has really spurred me on to be the musician I am today."

Festival Artistic Director Dr Robert Howard added:- "Sonny has always shown a real joy and expressiveness in his musicianship, and it's a pleasure to see him go on to even greater things."

Local primary school pupils will also get their chance to shine at this year's festival, with a Schools' Poetry Showcase at St Mary and St Paul's School.

The festival opens, on Friday, 16 June 2017, with Leyland Band, not only Lancashire's number 1 ranking brass band, but also among its most youthful, featuring a plethora of young musicians. Other highlights of the festival, which ends on Sunday, 25 June 2017, include organist Ian Tracey, jazz quintet the:- 'Chilled Lemons' and 'Phoenix Concert Orchestra.'

Tickets are on sale at:- Poco Coffee, 30 Eccleston Street, Prescot, L34 5QJ and online.