IN around two weeks, the 96th Wharfedale Music Festival will begin to blow a fresh breath of cultural air into the town once again. It is an event that has helped to put Ilkley on the cultural map both locally and nationally, as it is recognised as one of the country's leading festivals of its kind.

The Wharfedale Music Festival does a job second to none in encouraging young, and not-so-young talent to blossom and compete for prestigious awards. Some will go on to be our great musicians and actors of the future.

In these culturally barren days, when TV 'talent' shows such as Pop Idol command universal attention and massive funding, it is such a shame that young musicians with actual talent - as opposed to an ability to mime to banal rhythms while simpering and leaping around like a dyspeptic gibbon - have to rely on willing volunteers operating on a shoestring budget to bring their efforts to the public.

Fortunately for Ilkley, we have enough of those people who are willing to put in the effort to carry on such an important event. With the recent sale and conversion to housing of Ilkley College, the town has lost its world-renowned ballet seminars to Ripon. It would be a tragedy if the Wharfedale Music Festival went the same way.

In a bid to reflect the cultural diversity of the region this year the festival will include Asian music classes which just adds to the broad spread of talent on show.

There will be something for everyone to enjoy at one of the five venues around the town during the week of the festival and the final Gala Concert should be a real treat for culture lovers.

Wharfedale Music Festival will no doubt reach its 100th birthday and go on for many more years after that, so long as the people in the town appreciate what they have got and lend their support.

Anyone wanting further information about the festival which runs from May 11 to May 18, or how to get tickets should contact secretary Elizabeth Holbrook on 01943 872067.