The annual eisteddfod will kick off on Saturday, May 30, and promises to showcase the region’s performers in the fields of music, singing, speech and drama, and dance.

For many students, the 2015 BlueScope WIN Wollongong Eisteddfod is the culmination of 12 months of practice and rehearsing in the studio or at home.

Wollongong Eisteddfod committee chairman Tony Purdon said the event was regarded in the wider community as well run and prestigious, reflected in the numbers of interstate competitors this year.

‘‘We are attracting quite a number of people from Queensland, so the prestige of the event, the prize money, and the fact we have a very good reputation in the eisteddfod world, is keeping those entrant levels up,’’ he said.

Mr Purdon said the dance sections had very high numbers of participants this year.

One organisation which embraces the eisteddfod every year is Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts (WHSPA), which has around 80 students entered in the drama improvisation section.

Under the tutelage of Fran Curtis, WHSPA’s head teacher performing arts, the school has also entered students in the duologue in costume, drama performance groups and Shakespearean recital in costume sections.

Mrs Curtis said the focus was not on the competition side but rather to give students experience in showing their performance work.

‘‘There is such a huge demand for communication skills in the workforce, so working on expressive skills is such an important thing for every student.

‘‘I am a passionate advocate for giving students the opportunity to develop confidence and their skills in speaking,’’ she said.

‘‘The eisteddfod provides a great opportunity for students to get performance experience beyond the school and they can get another objective eye to give them feedback on their performance work,’’ she said.

‘‘The adjudicator’s comments can be very useful for students wishing to improve their skills and it often reinforces teacher comments and gives weight to what we tell our students.’’

The eisteddfod starts with the senior vocal solo sections at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. These sections will include classical, sacred and gospel songs. Sessions start at 9am, 1.30pm and 7pm.

The open aria qualifying sections will be held at Wesley Church, Crown Street Mall on Sunday, May 31, at 1.30pm.

The open aria final, with $8000 for first place, $2000 for second place and $1000 for third place, will start at 7pm.

The speech and drama sections and special needs performances will be held from June 2-4 and the music sections start on June 5.