Young people’s incredible musical talents celebrated at festival

Trumpeter Carys Wood from Haverfordwest High VC School was the overall winner at this year’s Secondary Schools Valero Music Festival.

The annual festival, which is organised by the Pembrokeshire County Council Music Service and sponsored by Valero, took place at Ysgol Caer Elen on Saturday (November 18^th).

More than 240 young musicians from each of the County’s eight county secondary schools, Pembrokeshire College and further afield took part in individual and ensemble competitions throughout the day.

Later in the afternoon, an enthusiastic audience enjoyed a ‘Spotlight’ concert showcasing the individual winners and the winners of the instrumental and vocal ensemble competitions.

During the day, every performer who placed first, second and third in their class received a badge in recognition of their achievement.

Philippa Roberts, Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service, said: “I would like to congratulate every young musician who performed and supported one another on Saturday. Also, a heartfelt thank you to Valero, the Friends of Pembrokeshire Young Musicians and the professional and encouraging adjudicating team who continue to support Pembrokeshire Music Service and our pupils.”

Sean O’Neill, ensembles adjudicator, expressed his admiration for the day. “The standard of music making from all the young musicians was outstanding with loads of evidence of talent and potential coming through for the future! It was a great pleasure to be involved.”

Trumpeter Carys Wood, was presented with the overall winners’ cup by brass adjudicator Corey Morris. Earlier in the day, Carys performed Virtuosity by Kenny Baker.

Winner of the Open Woodwind competition was James Townsend from Haverfordwest High VC School, who performed Czardas by Monti.

The Open String competition winner was cellist Isabel Raymond from Ysgol Caer Elen who performed Tarantella by WH Squire.

The Open Jazz winner was Dylan Sanders-Swales from Haverfordwest High VC School who performed his own arrangement of Whirlybird. Dylan was also the winner of the Open Percussion class. He performed a Super Mario Medley which he again arranged himself.

The Open Piano and Harp class was won by Jencyn Corp from Ysgol Bro Preseli who performed his own composition, Yr Afon.

The Open Vocal Competition was won by Rhys Williams from Ysgol Harri Tudur, who sang “It’s hard to speak my heart” from the musical Parade.

The first winner of the new Open Guitar class was Willis Riley from Greenhill, who performed The Trooper by Iron Maiden.

The Open Vocal Ensemble class winners were Haverfordwest High VC School’s upper voices ensemble. They performed an Adele mashup of Rumour has it/Someone like you.

The Open Instrumental Ensemble competition was won by Jencyn Corp and Lefi Dafydd of Ysgol Bro Preseli Deuadd piano, performing Norwegian Dance by Grieg.

The winners of the inaugural Open Rock and pop ensemble were The Messiaens from Haverfordwest High VC School. They performed Superstition by Stevie Wonder.

The hall at Ysgol Caer Elen was packed full as family, friends, and pupils who had performed earlier in the day all stayed to support the open winners.

The invited professional adjudicators – Timothy Angel, vocal; Sean O’Neill, ensemble; Christopher Vale, woodwind; Corey Morris, brass; Karin Jenkins, strings; Bethan Harkin, piano and harp; Ben Richards, instrumental; Nick Baron, percussion, guitar and Jazz – were greatly impressed with the high standard and strength of schools’ music on show from across the County.

County Music Service events coordinator Miranda Morgan thanked the adjudicators, teachers, parents and students for making the Festival such a success.

“We are overwhelmed at the amount of young people who have participated in this year’s festival – we had over double the number taking part this year compared to last year which is wonderful to see. The standard of playing has been impressive throughout and it has been fantastic to extend our classes to include guitar and rock and pop ensembles this year.”

The results of the day were as follows: 

WOODWIND

Grade 3 flute

1^st – Tilly Laugharne – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

2^nd – Mali Jones-Hughes – HHVC

3^rd – Erin Dando – MHS

Grade 3 clarinet and saxophone

1^st – Sophie Gilmartin – Greenhill

2^nd – Emily Dickinson – Greenhill

3^rd – Jed Cox – Greenhill

Highly commended – Katherine Jones – Harri Tudur

Grade 4 woodwind

1^st – Tom Pounder – MHS

2^nd – Ollie Towe – Ysgol Bro Preseli

3^rd – Bethan Packard – MHS

Grade 5 woodwind

1^st – Ffion Evans – Ysgol Caer Elen

2^nd – Catrin Jones – Ysgol Caer Elen

3^rd – Ela-Gwennon Jones – Ysgol Caer Elen

Grade 6 woodwind

1^st – Noah Jenkins – HHVC

2^nd – Gemma Armstrong – Ysgol Bro Preseli

3^rd – Alice Hillen – HHVC and Eryn Howlett – MHS

Open woodwind

1^st – James Townsend – HHVC

2^nd – Jencyn Corp – Ysgol Bro Preseli

3^rd – Harry Armstrong – MHS

BRASS

Grade 3 & 4 brass

1^st – Elwyn Powell – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

2^nd – Owain Williams – HHVC

3^rd – Harry Thomas – Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi

Highly commended – Isabella Tawn – HHVC

Grade 5 brass

1^st – Eliza Wood – Greenhill

2^nd – Archie Noyce – Greenhill

3^rd – Gwilym Jones – Ysgol Bro Preseli

Grade 6 brass

1^st – Seren Barrett – Greenhill

2^nd – Ioan Bromby – Greenhill and Andrew Johnson – Ysgol Bro Preseli

3^rd – Jaap Harris – Ysgol Bro Preseli

Highly commended – Matthew Shaw – Greenhill, Arlo Jones – Greenhill, Kellan Rycroft – Ysgol Bro Preseli

Open brass

1^st – Carys Wood – HHVC (and overall 2023 winner)

2^nd – Carys Rycroft – Ysgol Bro Preseli

3^rd – Filip Middlemist – HHVC

STRINGS

Grade 3

1^st – Brooke Patterson – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

2^nd – Debora Calocane – HHVC

3^rd – Emma Nicholas – Greenhill and Eira Kaill-Franks – Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi

Highly commended – Janelle Cabral – HHVC

Grade 4

1^st – Ruby Rapi – Ysgol Bro Preseli and Elena Gould

2^nd – Sara James – Ysgol Caer Elen

3^rd – Kitty Kingsnorth

Highly commended – Grace Tilbury – Harri Tudur

Grade 5

1^st – Annabel John – Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi

2^nd – Cosmo Karenin – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

3^rd – Anwen Sims – Ysgol Caer Elen

Grade 6

1^st – Seren Barrett – Greenhill and Mia Burnett – HHVC

2^nd – Tom Bridger – Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi

3^rd – Gwenna Kennerley – HHVC

Highly commended – Esyllt Corp – Ysgol Bro Preseli

Open strings

1^st – Isabel Raymond – Ysgol Caer Elen

2^nd – Maria Cabral – HHVC

3^rd – Daisy Whitfield – Ysgol Bro Preseli

Highly commended – Freya Prout – Pembrokeshire College and Ella Bromby – Greenhill

PIANO AND HARP

Grade 3 and 4

1^st – Harry Thomas – Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi

2^nd – Anwen Sims – Ysgol Caer Elen

3^rd – Steffan James – Ysgol Caer Elen

Highly commended – Martha Bhari – Harri Tudur

Grade 5

1^st – Abbie Collinson – Greenhill

2^nd – Sara James – Ysgol Caer Elen and Siddha Saini – Ysgol Bro Preseli

3^rd – Tom Bridger – Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi and Elena Gould (homeschooled)

Grade 6

1^st – Cosmo Karenin – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

2^nd – Sebastian Semaani-Rodriguez – Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi and Megan Evans – Ysgol Caer Elen

3^rd – Emily Thomas – Greenhill

Highly commended – Matthew Shaw – Greenhill and Isabel Ramond – Ysgol Caer Elen

Open piano

1^st – Jencyn Corp – Ysgol Bro Preseli

2^nd – Lefi Dafydd – Ysgol Bro Preseli

3^rd – Iestyn Barrellie – Greenhill

Highly commended – Jenifer Rees

DRUM KIT/PERCUSSION

Grade 3-6

1^st – William Rowe – Penrhyn Dewi

2^nd – Sam Berry – Ysgol Bro Gwaun and Jensen Luker – Ysgol Caer Elen

Open drum kit

1^st – Dylan Sanders-Swales – HHVC

2^nd – Libby Phillips – HHVC

GUITAR

Grade 3-5

1^st – Lewis Murray – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

2^nd – Steffan James – Ysgol Caer Elen

Open guitar

1^st – Willis Riley – Greenhill

JAZZ

Grade 3-5

1^st – Tom Pounder – MHS

2^nd – Eryn Howlett – MHS

Open jazz

1^st – Dylan Sanders-Swales – HHVC

2^nd – Jencyn Corp – Ysgol Bro Preseli

3^rd – Jed Davies – Pembrokeshire College

VOCALS

Popular vocals years 7-9

1^st – Bella Carrol – Harri Tudur

2^nd – Sophie Jones – Harri Tudur

3^rd – Maisie Tennick – Caer Elen

Highly commended – Davinia Foster – Harri Tudur

Popular vocals years 10-13

1^st – Millie Evans-Thomas – Greenhill

2^nd – Honey Johnston – HHVC, Mia Young – Greenhill and Libby Banner – HHVC

3^rd – Lacey-May Mattson – HHVC and Gwenna Kennerley – HHVC

Highly commended – Theo Butland – Harri Tudur

Musical theatre and classical vocals years 7-9

1^st – Maya Welton – Ysgol Bro Preseli

2^nd – Claire Hooper-Rees – HHVC

3^rd – Martha Bhari – Harri Tudur and Rosabelle Chatwin – Ysgol Caer Elen

Highly commended – Caitlyn Sanders-Swales – MHS

Musical theatre and classical vocals years 10-13

1^st – Ella Bromby – Greenhill

2^nd – Iestyn Finch – HHVC

3^rd – Mia Burnett – HHVC and Bella McCare – HHVC

Highly commended – Edie Morris – Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi

Open vocals

1^st – Rhys Williams – Harri Tudur

2^nd – Eliza Jessica Bradbury – Pembrokeshire College

3^rd – Megan Lloyd – MHS

Highly commended – Bethan Raymond – HHVC

ENSEMBLES

Instrumental ensemble grade 5-

1^st – Ysgol Bro Preseli violin quartet

2^nd – Greenhill Clarinet trio

Open instrumental ensemble

1st – Ysgol Bro Preseli deuawd piano

2^nd – Ysgol Bro preseli piano a ffliwt

3^rd – HHVC violin quartet

Open vocal ensemble

1^st – HHVC upper voices ensemble

2^nd – HHVC lower voices ensemble

3^rd – Harri Tudur vocal ensemble

Rock and pop ensemble grade 5-

1^st – Ysgol Caer Elen

2^nd – HHVC

3^rd – Harri Tudur

Highly commended – HHVC Band 2

Open Rock and pop ensemble

1^st – “The Messiaens” – HHVC

2^nd – HHVC KS4 band

3^rd – Greenhill school band

Highly commended – HHVC Band #1