More than 400 Primary school children took part in the Pembrokeshire Music Service Valero Primary Music Festival recently
Pembrokeshire Music Service welcomed pupils from across the county to share their musical talents with a delighted audience at Ysgol Caer Elen on February 24.
Eight-year-old St Oswalds School in Jeffreyston pupil Alice Thomas was crowned overall winner of the festival following an outstanding performance of Galop by Charles Bohm on her violin.
This year’s event included the addition of a “Come and Play” class, where learners who were at the start of their musical journey could come and share their music with each other.
Philippa Roberts, Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service said: “It was wonderful to listen to the performances of all the young musicians, particularly those who are new to playing. Congratulations to each participant for their commendable efforts.
“The implementation of the New Music Plan for Wales has enabled Pembrokeshire Music Service to offer essential progression opportunities for our pupils which includes our new Second Steps ensemble who delivered an outstanding performance at the spotlight concert. Da iawn pawb!”
The Spotlight concert opened with a bang as 45 players from across the County’s Second Steps ensembles came together for their first public performance. These ensembles, for children in Years Three to Six, only began in September.
Open class winners who performed at the Spotlight Concert included Matthew Picton, of Gelliswick School, who performed Allegro Vivace by Singelee on his Saxophone; Mali Macfarlane, who performed A Whole New World by Alan Menken on the Cornet and Amber O’Connor, Ysgol Eglwyswrw, who performed Concerto by O’Carolan on the Harp.
Griff Nicholas, from Ysgol Casmael, performed She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult on Drums and the ensemble winners were Golden Grove School’s Wolfgang Evans and Betsy Adamiec who performed a piano duet of Faraway by Allan Bullard.
Events coordinator for Pembrokeshire Music Service, Miranda Morgan, added: “We are extremely grateful to Valero, as always, for sponsoring our event.
“When our last primary festival was held, the current Year Six pupils would have been in Year Two, so this was the first time performing in the festival for every single child present. They should all be very proud of themselves.”
Pembrokeshire Music Service Primary Valero Music Festival 2024 results are as follows:
Woodwind
Initial Grade:
1st – Seren Holder, Hafan y Mor
2nd – Eva Frearson, Hafan y Mor
3rd – Eifion James, St Oswalds
HC – Jessica Lynch, Casmael
Grade 1:
1st – Oliver Davis, Johnston
2nd – Annabel Ladd, Croesgoch
3rd – Evie Towe, St Dogmaels
Grade 2:
1st – Angharad Chinn, MHCPS
2nd – Autumn Shepherd, Coastlands
3rd – Saphire Cook, MHCPS
Open:
1st – Matthew Picton, Gelliswick
2nd – Elin Rodriguez, Hook
3rd – Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen
Brass:
Initial Grade:
1st – Iolo Sims, Caer Elen
2nd – Henry Woods, St Dogmaels
3rd – Polly Summers, YPD & Penny Ibberson-Senior, Roch
Lower Brass Grade 1:
1st – Isaac Phillips, Saundersfoot
2nd – Aria White, Saundersfoot
3rd – Thomas Codd, Glannau Gwaun & Archie Llewellyn, Tenby VC
HC – TJ Stewart, Glannau Gwaun
Trumpet & Cornet Grade 1:
1st – Zoey Pyart, Prendergast
2nd – Isla Griffiths, Saundersfoot
3rd – Ella-Mae Kurby, MHCPS
HC – Freddie Coleman, YPD
Grade 2:
1st – Henry Slade-Davies, Llanychllwydog & Eilidh Frazer, Tenby VC
Open:
1st – Mali Macfarlane, Caer Elen
2nd – Idris Leeming-Hicks, Caer Elen
3rd – Elizabeth Davies, Saundersfoot,
HC – Elin Jones, Bro Ingli
Strings
Initial grade:
1st – Ashley Cristobel, Prendergast
2nd – Efa Britton, Johnston
3rd – Bella Carrier, St Oswalds
Grade 1:
1st – Lily Kingaby, Casmael
2nd – Vivienne King, Hafan y Mor
3rd – Celeste Watts, Roch
HC – Isla Griffiths, Saundersfoot
Grade 2:
1st – Leila Powell
2nd - Genula Wickramaarachichi, Prendergast
3rd – Harrison Shepherd, Caer Elen
Open:
1st – Alice Thomas, St Oswalds
2nd – Nina Powell
3rd – Chloe Jenkins Simms, Hafan y Mor
Piano & Harp
Initial grade:
1st – Gwen Porter
2nd – Mia Rogers, Lamphey & Ffion Fenrich, Cilgerran
3rd – Alice Ng, Caer Elen
HC – Eva Allen, Lamphey
Grade 1:
1st – Poppy Hammersley, Brynconin
2nd – Jessica Lynch, Casmael
3rd – Annabel Ladd, Croesgoch
HC – Darcy Taylor - Lamphey, George Thomas, Layla McGilloway - Lamphey, Phoebe Ritchie - Caer Elen, Haydn Griffiths - Caer Elen, Noah Worrall, Scarlett Chandra – Caer Elen.
Grade 2:
1st – Eva Evans, Wiston
2nd – Millie Griffiths, Wiston & Cadi Haf Marshall-Jones, Bro Preseli
3rd – Elsbeth Slade-Davies, Llanychllwydog
Open:
1st – Amber O’Connor, Eglwyswru
2nd – Mischa Orford, Tavernspite
3rd – Roberta Gale, YPD
Percussion
Initial Grade:
1st – Maddie Wright, Saundersfoot
2nd – Harri George, Casmael
3rd – Charlie Cheeseman, Saundersfoot
HC – Efan Rees, Casmael & Alfie Hughes, Tenby VC
Open:
1st – Griff Nicholas, Casmael
2nd – Edward Batchelor, Caer Elen
3rd – Max Griffiths, Caer Elen & Alex Youngs, Johnston
HC – Owain James, Casmael & Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen
Ensembles
1st – Golden Grove piano duet (Wolfgang Evans & Betsy Adamiec)
2nd – Bro Preseli Harp Duo (Cadi Haf Marshall-Jones & Elen Davies)
3rd – Piano ensemble (Roberta Gale, Seren Reason & Poppy Burton)