The culmination of this Festival (previously the Edinburgh Competition Festival) is a concert comprising an hour-long "showcase" of outstanding performances selected from a range of classes across the Festival, and after the interval the final of the prestigious Concerto Class in which four soloists perform movements from major Concertos, accompanied by the Friends of The Festival Orchestra.

The Festival runs from 24 February to 6 March and the full programme is available from late January in Rae Macintosh Music and Omni Music Store in Edinburgh, or during the Festival at the venues themselves (main venues - St Cuthbert's Church and Palmerston Place Church). An outline of the programme can also be viewed on the Festival website at www.ecfest.org.uk.

Photo: St Mary's Music School