The 32nd Eisteddfod will get underway next Friday, May 20, with an action packed program running through until Saturday, June 25 when the annual Stars of the Eisteddfod concert is held at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.

For long-time president George Windsor it is an exciting time of the year.

“It is wonderful to see the talent from the local area and further afield who enter the Shoalhaven Eisteddfod,” he said.

“As well as a huge number of local entrants, we also have entries from Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney and Victoria.

“This really is a wonderful cultural event for the Shoalhaven.”

This year events will be staged at both the Nowra School of Arts and the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.

More than 900 entries have been received, with the eisteddfod program starting with the  dance section on May 20.

“We have four weeks of wonderful competition,” Mr Windsor said “and we cover such a wide section of competition from dance, vocal, instrumental, speech and drama and, of course,  school competitions.

“We have entrants as young as five through to those in their 80s. There are events for everyone.

“Each year the talent that enters the eisteddfod is amazing and each section is always hotly contested.

“The school choral event is always popular and again this year we have entries from Wollongong.”

Prize money ranges from $100 through to $3000.

As well as backing from the Shoalhaven City Council and the Shoalhaven Arts Board, this year he said the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre had also come on board as a major backer.

“I must also thank the Nowra CWA who again have supported our efforts this year. They have been with us for almost the entire time the event has been held,” he said.

Every session is open to the public for the low cost of just $5.

“We have had the same entry prices for several years. I don’t know of anywhere else you could see such entertainment for such a small price,” he said.

“Three hours for $5 how can you beat that?”

Of course, children’s entry is free.

“The Stars of the Eisteddfod is the showcase of the month-long event on June 25, with tickets just $25 where could you get better value for money for such a concert?” he said.

The eisteddfod has been a passion for the Windsors, who have both been involved for close to two decades.

Elizabeth is the speech and drama convenor and volunteers’ organiser.

“We have 40 volunteers who help make the eisteddfod the success it is each year,” Mrs Windsor said.

City of Shoalhaven Eisteddfod program

Dance - Nowra School of Arts - Friday and Saturday, May 20-21 - solos and troupes, classical ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, character, expressive.

Vocal - Nowra School of Arts - Friday, May 27, Sunday, May 29 - solos and groups, ballads, classical, jazz, pop/country, sacred, operatic aria contest.

Instrumental - Nowra School of Arts - Wednesday, June 1, Saturday, June 4 - solos and groups, piano, keyboard, brass, woodwinds, strings, instrumental groups.

Speech and drama - Nowra School of Arts - Thursday, Friday, June 16-17 - Solos and groups, prose-reading, verse-speaking, mime, character in costume, public speaking, story-telling.

School Age - Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre and Nowra School of Arts - Friday, May 20, Thursday, May 26, Wednesday, June 1, Wednesday, June 15, Wednesday, June 16 - school age dance groups, school age choral, school age instrumental groups, school age speech and drama groups.

Stars of the Eisteddfod - Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre - Saturday, June 25 from 2pm.

Programs  are available at www.shoalhaveneisteddfod.org.au