Flautist Amy Taylor from Greenhill School, Tenby, was the overall winner at this year’s secondary schools Valero Music Festival.
The annual festival - organised by the Pembrokeshire County Council music service and sponsored by Valero - took place at Sir Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest.
Over 200 young musicians from each of the county’s eight county secondary schools and Pembrokeshire College took part in individual and ensemble competitions throughout the day.
Later in the afternoon, in a change to the usual format, an enthusiastic audience enjoyed a ‘spotlight’ concert showcasing the individual winners and the winners of the instrumental and vocal ensemble competitions.
The council’s music service co-ordinator, Philippa Roberts, said: “This concert was a celebration of the continued hard work and dedication of the young musicians of Pembrokeshire.”
She thanked the ‘Friends of Pembrokeshire Orchestra’ for providing cheese and wine and for their continued support of the music service throughout the year.
String adjudicator and music service manager for Swansea, Karin Jenkins said that the high standard of performance could only be maintained with the continued support of the schools, parents and instrumental teachers.
Amy Taylor was presented with the Tim Bourne Memorial Cup by the county music service manager Ben Field. Earlier in the day, Amy - who won the open woodwind competition - performed ‘Andante et Scherzo’ by Louis Ganne.
Winner of the open brass competition was trombonist Rhiannon Andrasko, of Ysgol Preseli, who performed ‘Romance’ by Weber. Rhiannon was also the winner of the open jazz section performing ‘Startdust’ by Hoagy Carmichael on trombone.
The open string competition winner was violinist Eleanor Hodgson, of Pembrokeshire College, who performed ‘Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso’ by Saint-Saens.
Scott Phillips from Ysgol Dewi Sant was the winner of the open piano class and performed ‘Toccata’ by Aram Khachaturian.
The open vocal competition was won by Tomos Salmon from Ysgol Bro Gwaun who sang ‘Cilfan y Coed by Rhys Jones, accompanied by Marilyn Lewis.
Meanwhile, the open percussion class winner was Philip Davies from Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordfwest, who performed ‘Brazilian Overture’ by Ralph Salmins for a solo drum kit.
The open vocal ensemble class winners were a vocal trio from Sir Thomas Picton School. Leah Bower, Harry Coombes and Eleri Edwards performed ‘Tears in Heaven’ by Eric Clapton.
The open instrumental ensemble competition was won by Ysgol Dewi Sant Brass Quartet comprising: Scott Phillips and Joshua Swain (trumpets); Rhys Meredith-Barrett (tenor horn) and Matthew Page-Davies (euphonium). They performed ‘Divertimento’ by Anthony Hedges.
The invited professional adjudicators were: Timothy Angel (vocal); Denis Mahoney (ensemble); Sue Brow (woodwind); Simon Howell (brass); Karin Jenkins (strings); Andrew Lamb (piano) and William Edwards (percussion and jazz).
They were all greatly impressed with the high standard and strength of schools’ music on show from across the county.
The recently appointed county music manager, Ben Field, thanked the adjudicators, teachers, parents and students for making the festival such a success.
Ben said afterwards: “This is my first festival since taking over from the long-serving Chris Llewellyn and I must say and I am astounded at the exceptional level of competition.”
The results were as follows:
WOODWIND
Class 2 Grade 5 Flute and Oboe: 1. Nell Evans (Ysgol y Preseli); 2. Henry White (Sir Thomas Picton School); 3. Cassandra Favorido (Pembroke School); HC Georgia Lee (Pembroke School).
Class 3 Grade 6 Woodwind: 1. Hope Yeates (Greenhill School); 2. Isabel Howe (Ysgol Dewi Sant); 3. Harry Cecil (Milford Haven School); HC Anna Long (Sir Thomas Picton School).
Class 4 Grade 7 Woodwind: 1. Elizabeth Ross (Sir Thomas School); 2. James Crowney-Richards (Greenhill School); 3. Matthew Maloney (Ysgol Dewi Sant); HC Latasha Wade (Greenhill School); HC Jamma Hurds (Sir Thomas Picton).
Class 2a Grade 5 Clarinet and Sax: 1. Jake Scott (Sir Thomas Picton School); 2. Tom Wears (Sir Thomas Picton School); 3. Niall Hooper (Sir Thomas Picton School); HC Lorna McEvoy (Ysgol Dewi Sant).
Class 5 Grade Open Woodwind: 1. Amy Taylor (Greenhill School); 2. Elizabeth James (Sir Thomas Picton School); 3. Eve Humphreys (Pembroke School); HC James Crowney-Richards (Greenhill School).
BRASS
Class 7 Grade 4 Brass: 1. Billy Marsh (Ysgol Dewi Sant); Idris Rutherford (Tasker Milward School); 3. Josh Musslewhite-Jerman (Sir Thomas Picton School); HC Adam Phillips (Ysgol Bro Gwaun).
Class 8 Grade 5 Brass: 1. Hayden Gough (Milford Haven School); 2. Tom Goodson (Ysgol Dewi Sant); 3. Imogen Stace-Smith (Greenhill School); HC Ieuan Ruterford (Taskter Milford School).
Class 9 Grade 6 Brass: 1. Sara Howell (Ysgol y Preseli); 2. Ross Owen (Milford Haven School); 3. Tieg Thomas (Sir Thomas School).
Class 10 Grade 7 Brass: 1. Rachael Morgan (Ysgol y Preseli); 2. Monty Kimer (Greenhill School); 3. Rachel Moiney (Milford Haven) and Ryan McSweeney (Greenhill School); HC Carys George (Tasker Milford) and Sophie Rees (Milford Haven School).
*Class 11 Grade Open Brass*: 1. Rhiannon Andrasko (Ysgol y Preseli); 2. Daniel Roche (Castle School) and Fred Stace Smith (Greenhill School); 3. Rhys Meredith-Barret (Ysgol Dewi Sant); HC Dominic Belli (Greenhill School).
STRINGS
Class 12 Grade 7 Strings: 1. Rhianna Wade (Sir Thomas Picton School); 2. Rhiannon Elliott (Ysgol y Preseli); 3. Liliana Thompson (Greenhill School); HC Anya Walton (Ysgol Dewi Sant).
Class 13 Grade 5 Strings: 1. William Lewis (Ysgol Dewi Sant); 2. Megan Rees (Ysgol Dewi Sant); 3. Elin Williams (Ysgol Bro Gwaun); HC Lihla Noble (Ysgol Dewi Sant).
Class 14 Grade 6 Strings: 1. Ethan Beard (Pembroke School); 2. Annest Davies (Ysgol y Preseli); Lago Evans (Ysgol Bro Gwaun); HC Efa Walker (Sir Thomas Picton) and Awen Davies (Ysgol y Preseli).
OPEN STRINGS
Class 15: 1. Eleanor Hodgson (Pembrokeshire College); 2. Rhys Lewis (Sir Thomas Picton School) and James Horton (Pembrokeshire College); 3. Ioan Evans (Ysgol Bro Gwaun); HC Charlie Richards (Ysgol y Preseli).
WOODWIND/PIANO
Class 1a Flute and Oboe Grade 4: 1. Evie-Jean Davies (Greenhill School); 2. Lottie Hewlett (Pembroke School); 3. Jasmine Morris (Ysgol Dewi Sant); HC Lucas Gertman (Greenhill School).
Class 1b Clarinet and Sax Grade 4: 1. Caitlyn Arron (Milford Haven School); 2. Elin Kimberley (Ysgol Dewi Sant); 3. Branwen Vaughan (Ysgol y Preseli); HC Aran Locke (Milford Haven School).
Class 17 Grade 4 Piano: 1. Ioan Thompson (Greenhill); 2. Isabel Howe (Ysgol Dewi Sant); 3. Ella Townsend (Sir Thomas Picton School); HC Cerys Adams (Pembroke School) and Nia Williams (Pembroke School).
Class 18 Grade 5 Piano: 1. Nell Evans (Ysgol y Presli); 2. Adam Husika (St. Michaels, Llanelli); 3. Imogen Grimes (Castle School); HC William Lewis (Ysgol Dewi Sant).
Class 19 Grade 6/7 Piano: 1. Liliana Thompson (Greenhill School); 2. Joshua Morris (Sir Thomas Picton School); 3. Annest Davies (Ysgol y Preseli); HC Iago Evans (Bro Gwaun).
GRADE OPEN PIANO
Class 20: 1. Scott Phillips (Dewi Sant); 2. Marnus Peterson; 3. Dominic Belli (Greenhill); HC Latasha Wade and Rhianna Wade (Sir Thomas Picton).
VOCAL
Class 29: Musical Theatre and Classical Vocal Years 7-9: 1. Isabel Howe (Ysgol Dewi Sant); 2. Seren Phillips (Ysgol y Preseli); 3. Carys Underwood (Ysgol y Preseli) and Tommy Penney (Ysgol Dewi Sant); HC Lara Whitfield (Ysgol y Preseli).
Class 30: Popular Vocal Years 7-9: 1. Molly Thomas (Ysgol y Preseli); 2. Rebecca Harries (Milford Haven School); 3. Kate Davies (Milford Haven School); HC Lucy Mackintosh (Milford Haven School).
Class 31a Popular Vocal Years 10-13: 1. Cerys Grant (Ysgol Bro Gwaun); 2. Lea Bower (Sir Thomas Picton School); 3. Chloe Edwards (Tasker Milward School); HC Sophie Wheeler (Milford Haven School).
Class 31 Musical Theatre and Classical Vocal Years 10-13: 1. Joanna Thomas (Ysgol Bro Gwaun); 2. Megan Rees (Ysgol Dewi Sant); 3. Rachael Morgan (Ysgol y Preseli) and Eleri Edwards (Sir Thomas Picton); HC Alana Hayes (Ysgol Bro Gwaun).
Class 38 Vocal Ensemble: 1. Sir Thomas Picton Trio; 2. Ysgol Dewi Sant Vocal Trio.
Class 31 Open Vocal: 1. Tomos Salmon (Bro Gwaun); 2. Angharad Raymond (Milford Haven); 3. Cari Byrne (Preseli); HC Joshua Morris (Sir Thomas Picton).
ENSEMBLE
Class 35 Ensemble Grade 5: 1. Ysgol y Preseli (Preseli Angels (Alys Owen, Oscar Mansfield, Bethan Andrasko, Ruben Mansfield) 2. Ysgol y Preseli (Four Fiddlers and It (Emily Davies, Anna Lewis, Mabi Johnston, Lara Whitfield, Carys Underwood); 3. Milford Haven (Flute Trio (Eve, Kaitlyn, Megan).
Class 36 Grade 6-8 Ensemble: 1. Sir Thomas Picton School Percussion Ensemble (Philip Davies, Sara Llewellyn, Declan Punter, Tomas Lawrence); Milford Haven School Sax Ensemble (Thomas, Jasmine, Saul, Caitlyn, Rowan); 3. Pembroke School Flute Trio (Elys Phillips, Eve Humphreys, Cerys Adams).
Class 39 Instrumental Duo: 1. Awen and Annest Davies (Ysgol y Preseli); 2. Dominic Belli and Liliana Thompson (Greenhill); 3. Rhys Lewis and Rhianna Wade (Sir Thomas Picton); HC Bethan Powell and Chloe Morris (Pembroke School).
Class 37 Open Ensemble: 1. Brass Quartet (Ysgol Dewi Sant); 2. Saxophone Quartet (Greenhill); 3. Trumpet Quartet (Tasker Milford); HC Sir Thomas Picton Baroque Trio (Sir Thomas Picton).
PERCUSSION/JAZZ
Class 23 Kit Percussion Grade 3-6: 1. Ben Parr (Milford Haven School); 2. Owen Thomas (Milford Haven School); 3. Idris Rutherford (Tasker Milward School); HC Evan Phillips (Pembroke School).
Class 16/28 Grade 4 Strings: 1. Sara O’Connor (Ysgol y Preseli); 2. Seren Griffiths (Ysgol y Preseli); 3. Catrin Bishop (Ysgol y Preseli); HC Tom Davies (Greenhill School).
Class 33 Jazz Grade 3-5: 1. Kara Hughes (Ysgol y Preseli); 2. Thomas Carew (Milford Haven School); 3. Megan Owens (Milford Haven School); HC Seren Allen (Ysgol y Preseli) and Jasime John (Milford Haven School).
Class 34 Open Jazz: 1. Rhiannon Andrasko (Ysgol y Preseli); 2. Jonathon Wild (Milford Haven School); 3. Angharad Raymond (Milford Haven School).
Class 25 Open Percussion: 1. Philip Davies (Sir Thomas Picton School); 2. Joey Robbins (Ysgol y Preseli); 3. Carys Underwood (Ysgol y Preseli); HC Sara Llewellyn (Sir Thomas Picton School).