The trophies are all lined up ready to be handed out, and the volunteers have manned their battle stations. 

Kicking things off will be the eight years and under Piano Classic Repertoire Solo from 9am in the City Hall. 

It will be followed by the eight years and under Piano Popular Solo and the eight years and under Piano Jazz Solo.

Performances in the theatre will get underway at 9.45am with the adorable Kindergarten Choir Section and the infants choirs. The afternoon sections will start at 1pm.

Eisteddfod Society president Paul Elbourne is excited that opening day is finally here.

“We are really looking forward to 9am when the first child walks onto the stage, because that’s what it is all about. Throughout the day there will be 11 choirs performing, so BMEC will be filled with children,” she said.

Ms Elbourne said throughout the eisteddfod there will be a huge array of prizes to be won across all age groups, with cash prizes, trophies, medals and books presented to the winners.

“The Bathurst Eisteddfod is going from strength to strength,” Ms Elbourne said. “It is so important to have a great team of people. It makes it so much easier and great fun.”

The music section will continue until August 31. This year the music adjudicators are pianist Jeremy Eskenazi and opera singer Inge Southcott.

Born in Paris in 1978, French-British Eskenazi has performed in many venues, such as the Festival Chopin in Paris, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and 

Saint-Martin-in-the-Fields in London, the Holywell Music Room in Oxford and the Istanbul Opera House. 

He started to learn the piano at age seven, and at 10 years of age entered the Conservatoire Francis Poulenc in Paris.

Inge Southcott practised as a doctor for 10 years before becoming a professional opera singer with Opera Australia. She teaches singing, exam preparation, stage skills and audition preparation, basic keyboard skills and Kodaly-based musicianship training.