WEEKEND PREVIEWS: Performing arts event shapes up

STANDING out from the crowd can be a daunting experience but not for hundreds of musicians, dancers and performers who are set to take the stage at this year's annual Festival of Performing Arts Competitions Week.
Baycourt will be a hive of activity as more than 700 competitors take part in one or more of the eight categories at the 10-day event.
This year the festival will celebrate its 53rd anniversary, a magnificent feat, performing arts society president Annette Johnston said.
"Each year it just gets bigger and bigger and this year it's particularly pleasing the number of senior competitors we have," Mrs Johnston said.
The competition is open to people across the country and this year entrants are coming from as far away as Whangarei and Christchurch. The only restriction is that competitors must be aged between 5 and 25.
The festival begins tomorrow with the Legacy Trust Tauranga Chamber Music Competition. Preliminary heats will take place throughout the day with finals from 7.30pm.
This is the second year the festival has included a chamber music competition and Mrs Johnston said it had secured some "amazing" artists.
 "This year we've attracted a very talented guy, a 14-year-old cellist from South America. His name is Santiago Canan Valencia and he is internationally renowned."
The chamber music competition has a total prize pool of $6500, which Mrs Johnston said made "this one of the leading chamber music competitions in New Zealand".
"People will really be surprised with what they hear from the chamber music event ... it really is just superb," she said.
As well as chamber music, other categories include ballet, tap, modern dance, highland dance, instrumental, pianoforte, singing and speech and drama.
Those who place in the top three in each of the eight categories will receive a share of $1500. The winner of each category will also receive a major scholarship programme, which Mrs Johnston said was one of the festival's draw cards.
The 10-day competition will be celebrated with a grand finale concert on the final Sunday night.
The various shows run from 9am-10pm each day.
To check the festival programme, go to the website www.taurangacompetitions.co.nz
INFO
What: Tauranga Festival of Performing Arts.
Where: Baycourt Theatre.
When: July 2-11.
Time: 9am-10pm.
Cost: Various.