Praise For Young Musicians’ Christmas Concert

There was plenty of seasonal good cheer at Sir Thomas Picton School on Friday evening (9th December), as talented young musicians from across the county put on a spectacular Christmas concert. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Christmas-themed ‘Celebration of Music’ featured the Pembrokeshire Schools’ Concert Band, the Symphonic Wind Band, the Pembrokeshire Schools’ Percussion Ensemble, the County Orchestra, and the Pembrokeshire Schools’ Symphonic Brass Ensemble. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The concert was organised by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Music Service and compered by Mrs Philippa Roberts. Philippa and Mrs Sarah Benbow, also from the Music Service, praised the pupils for their commitment and hard work throughout the term. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Pembrokeshire Schools’ Concert Band opened the evening with their renditions of ‘The Fairytale of New York’ and ‘Cars’, conducted by Sharalyn Jenkins and Colin Barrett. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Next to perform were the Symphonic Wind Band, who played ‘Rush’, ‘Beyond the Horizon’ and selections from ‘West Side Story’, conducted by Kevin Shanklin and Gareth Sanders-Swales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They were followed by the Pembrokeshire Schools’ Percussion Ensemble, conducted by Mrs Miranda Barrett, which performed ‘The King of Pop Medley’ and ‘A Christmas Medley’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The audience then enjoyed two pieces from the County Orchestra, led by Eleanor Hodgson and conducted by Chris Gillatt, who played ‘March to the Scaffold’ and two movements from Spartacus Ballet Suite No2. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The evening concluded with the Pembrokeshire Schools’ Symphonic Brass Ensemble under musical director Mr Colin Barrett who got the audience well and truly into the Christmas spirit with their rendition of ‘Christmas Crackers’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mince pies and mulled wine were provided by the Friends of the Pembrokeshire Schools Orchestra during the interval. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ben Field, manager of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Music Service, said the evening was an outstanding success. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Once again, audiences in Pembrokeshire have had the privilege of listening to some exceptional performances from very talented local musicians,” he said. “We’re all looking forward now to next term’s two Easter Concerts.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​