Going For A Song In Dover

Dover Library has launched a song writing competition to encourage anyone with musical talent to create an original composition.

Budding songwriters are invited to submit their entries on CD with accompanying lyric sheets between Monday 30 June and Saturday 12 July at Dover Library. The winning entries will be chosen by a panel of judges and could be played on BBC Radio Kent.

The competition is open to everybody, in two categories - 17 and under, and 18 and over. There will be a winner in each category and an overall winner. Prizes include theatre tickets and the overall winner could have their song played on BBC Radio Kent (subject to BBC Radio Kent's discretion) and receive a free live slot on Radio Kent.

As part of the competition, there will also be a live music event entitled "Bands and Books" on Saturday 5 July, from 2.30 - 4.30pm in the Discovery Teen and Community café at the Dover Discovery Centre, and in the library itself. This will include a concert by local singer, Louise Orfila who will begin her session with a question and answer workshop.

After this, visitors can "Try an Instrument" with Becca Green, who is attending on behalf of the YMCA, who are funding this portion of the event.

KCC Cabinet Member for Community Services Mike Hill said: "As part of the National Year of Reading in Kent we are encouraging people to develop a love of reading. Music and song lyrics are just as important and enjoyable as reading books and other forms of literature. This event ties in very well with the aims of the NYR and is also an excellent opportunity for people with a musical talent to be able to showcase their skills and share their creativity. I do hope that as many people as possible will take up the challenge and I look forward to hearing some of the winning entries."

KCC Customer Services Officer Matthew Sykes, who had the idea for the competition added: "Libraries are often only thought of in connection with books, but this is our way of, hopefully, inspiring the creation of music and lyrics, as an art form, from literature and poetry".

Entry forms and competition rules are available from Dover Library.