Over 1400 individual performances are expected to star on the various performing arts stage during the Forbes Eisteddfod, which will run from Saturday, June 18 until Thursday, June 23. 

Dance sections will start at Forbes High School Hall on July 9, with the program still being completed. 

It is expected to run on par with last year’s event, with 265 individual people performing, according to an eisteddfod spokeswoman.

“On school days, which includes choral, choral speech, special schools bands, school dance, there can be over 1200 people performing,” she said. 

“Last year on choirs alone, there was 980 students on stage over a period of three hours with participants coming from all around NSW.”

There are over 11 disciplines taking to the stage throughout the popular fixture of the Forbes calendar, with a total of 1396 individual performances. 

According to eisteddfod president Helen Hurley the event is still a healthy one, despite a drop in recent times in instrumental and vocal, because of a seeming reduction in the amount of instrumental and vocal teaching. 

The school, speech, drama and dance sections, however were very popular last year, and she was expecting a similar response for this eisteddfod. 

Mrs Hurley said the school section was flagging two years ago, but was revived through a prize pool offered for the most successful school -  points for entry and then additional points awarded for each placing.

According to the Forbes Eisteddfod website music, speech and drama sections will be held at Forbes Town Hall over six days, from June 18 to 23, whilst the dance sections will be held over eight days at the Forbes High School hall from July 7 to 17th. 

The traditional grand concert will be held at Forbes Town Hall on July 23.