The sixth annual Oxford Folk Festival will see a Saturday filled with song, as for the first time ever the team has invited a host of young singers from local schools to perform at the festival.

Choirs from 14 Oxfordshire schools will perform at Oxford Castle and the Holywell Music Room between noon and 5pm on Saturday afternoon.

They will be joined at the Holywell by local celebrities the Blackbird Leys Choir, who featured in Channel Five's Singing Estate programme in 2006.

A select four choirs have been chosen for a showcase concert in Oxford Town Hall on Sunday morning from 11am-noon.

Choirs concert organiser Cat Moore said: "This is such an amazing opportunity for the children - to be able to perform at a large event and in such incredible venues is going to be a very exciting experience for them. Singing is so good for you - it boosts self esteem and makes you feel really great.

"This is a wonderful chance for us to reinforce those positive values, and support the excellent work being done by teachers in encouraging children to sing."

Saturday will be rounded off in style with the Oxford Folk Festival's own community choir Rising Vo ices who will launch the Oxfordshire Singing Histories project with a free workshop on traditional Oxfordshire songs. No singing experience needed.

For more on Singing Histories visit www. singthenation. org Choir concerts at Oxford Castle and the Holywell Music Room are FREE.

Tickets for the Choirs Showcase Concert in the Town Hall are £4 (£2 cons) and can be bought from the Festival Box Office.

Participating schools are: Wantage CE Primary School, St Alyosius School, St Barnabas Primary School, Windmill Primary School, Larkrise School, Chalgrove School, Edward Feild Primary School, John Hampden School, Longcot & Fernham CE Primary School, Blewbury Primary School, Woodcote Primary School, Manor School, Cheney School, Botley Primary School, John Mason School, and Kirtlington CE School.

Choir directors are: Karen Wymbs, Louise Frithpowell, Tania Garrod, Penny Dwyer, Ed Finch, Wendy Creber, Jeremy Skertchly, Laura Hocking, Va l Hughes, Emma Hudson, Alison LeCorgne, Sarah Shoesmith, Wendy Murton, Emma Jordan, Bess Harris, Rachel Williams, Sue Brown.