The Lake School of Celtic Music, Song and Dance began on Sunday and will continue through to January 7.

The Lake School has arrived in Koroit at the start of each new year since its inception in 2000.

It provides classes, ranging from beginner to advanced, in a range of Celtic music instruments, singing disciplines, the spoken word and dancing.

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These classes are overseen by tutors, many of whom are prominent members of the strong Celtic music community in Melbourne, as well as respected players from the south-west.

For 2022, these include Cora Browne (singing), Colin Driscoll (poetry), Ewen Baker (fiddle), Merran Moir (whistle), Patrick Evans (guitar) and Leamon Chambers (bodhran).

New to the program this year is piano accordion with Jody Moran.

The Lake School went ahead in 2021, but only as an online version.

Lake School director Felix Meagher said it was good to be back in Koroit for 2022.

He said the persistence of COVID meant that while the school was happening in person this year, some modifications had been made to remain cautious as the pandemic continues to play out.

"This year we haven't tried to attract the really big numbers we had before COVID," Mr Meagher said.

"We have set our class sizes at about two thirds of what they would be for a normal year. In the classes we are operating as much as we can with doors open or having classes in the open air.

"It has taken an extra layer of organisation but it is important to provide that extra piece of mind for people and to make sure everyone is safe.

"We have also not included some of our bigger night-time concerts to err on the side of caution.

"Everyone has been so cooperative and the feeling is so positive and everyone is thrilled to be here."

The Lake School participants have come far and wide for their Celtic fix in Koroit.

These areas include Melbourne, Bendigo, Geelong and Sydney.

Mr Meagher said a contingent from Adelaide who usually came to the school had cancelled due to the COVID escalation in that state.

The Lake School classes are spread across various venues throughout Koroit.

These include the Koroit Theatre, the Koroit Historical Society Building, the Koroit Railway Station, the Koroit Gardens and the Koroit Senior Citizens Clubrooms.

Nightly sessions also take place in the town's two hotels.

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