Pupils excel at music festival
The annual Pembrokeshire VALERO Primary School’s Music Festival was held in Haverfordwest at the weekend.
Over 300 primary school musicians took part in this year’s event held at Sir Thomas Picton School on Saturday (March 5th).
Organised by the Pembrokeshire County Council Music Service and sponsored by VALERO, individual performers and ensembles competed against each other in various competitions in the morning.
In the afternoon the winners performed in a showcase concert to a capacity audience, along with area orchestras and bands.
It was then announced that the overall winner of this year’s festival was percussionist Sara Llewellyn of Neyland C.P.School. Earlier in the day she had won the Open Percussion class.
The winner of the Open Brass competition was Teifion Owen, Milford Haven Junior School who played “Album Leaf” by Edward Grieg, accompanied at the piano by Mrs Miranda Barrett.
The winner of the Open Woodwind class was Nell Evans from Gelli Aur / Golden Grove who performed “Gabriel’s Oboe” accompanied by her teacher Miranda Barratt.
Nell Evans from Gelli Aur / Golden Grove also won the Open Piano competition playing “Little Trolls” by Edward Grieg. She is taught piano by Rosemary Richards of Pembroke.
Seren Griffiths from Glan Cleddau School was winner of the Open String competition and performed “Gavotte” by Lully. She was accompanied by Mrs Heather Jenkins.
The winner of the Open Percussion class was Sara Llewellyn from Neyland who performed “Czardas” by Monti on her Marimba. She was accompanied at the piano by her father Mr Martyn Llewellyn.
Bro Dewi Recorder Sextet won the ensemble competition playing Suo Gan Y Nos which has been specially arranged for the group by their teacher Mrs Hilary Lewis.
“These competitions provide our young musicians with a valuable experience of performing to an appreciative and friendly audience of parents, teachers and friends,” said Chris Llewellyn, Head of the County Music Service.
“The large numbers of pupils who take part, coupled with the high standards of performance, demonstrate the strength of music in our primary schools and why Pembrokeshire continues to be one of the leading musical counties in Wales,” he said.
“The youngsters also benefit from the support and advice given to them by the adjudicators – Jane Gregory – strings, Lara James – woodwind,- Andrew McDade – brass, Denis Mahoney- ensembles, Nick Baron- percussion, Mark Jones – piano.”
The family of schools groups who performed in the afternoon concert were: Pembroke Junior Schools’ Orchestra – Conductor Kevin Shanklin. Tenby Area Junior Schools’ String Orchestra – Conductor Rebecca Whitehurst. Cerddorfa Bro Waldo – Conductor Joanne Underwood . Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Area Orchestra – Conductor – Verity Evans. St David’s Area Orchestra – Conductor Hilary Lewis. Tenby Area Wind Band – Conductor – Colin Barratt.
Bro Jemima Orchestra – Conductor Philippa Roberts.
On behalf of the adjudicators, Mrs Jane Gregory thanked the County Music Co-ordinator Mr Chris Llewellyn for all his commitment and dedication to music in the county over the last 35 years. Mr Llewellyn is due to retire from his post in the summer and has been involved in running these Festivals for over 30 years.
Caption
From the left Overall winner Percussionist Sara Llewellyn(Neyland CP School), Seren Griffiths, Open Strings(Ysgol Glan Cleddau), Mr Stephen Thornton, Valero Refinery Public Affairs Manager, Teifion Owen, Open Brass (Milford Haven Junior School) and Nell Evans, Open Woodwind(Ysgol Gelli Aur/Golden Grove).
Competition Results: –
Class 1,3, Flute, Oboe & Recorder Grade 2
1 Albie Elliott – Manorbier
2 Catrin Fletcher – BroadHaven
3 Anwen Severn – Roch
HC
Class 2,6,8 Woodwind Grade 3
1 Jasmine Morris – Bro Dewi
2 Nathan Howe – Croesgoch
3 Jesse Ormond – Gelli Aur /Golden Grove
HC
Class 5 Clarinet and Sax Grade 2
1 Lefi Dafydd – Eglwyswrw
2 Benjamin Davies – Cilgerran
3 Thomas Faletau – Templeton
HC Millie Morgan – Roch
HC Robin Joseph – Cleddau Reach
Class 9+10 Open Woodwind
1 Nell Evans – Gelli Aur /Golden Grove
2 Martha Owen – Roch
3 Amelia Faletau – Templeton
HC Georgia Lee – Orielton
Class 11 Trumpet and Cornet Grade 2
1 Dillon James – Cleddau Reach
2 Toby Hancock – Roch
3 Owen Canton – Roch
HC Andrew Scott – Broad Haven
Class 13, 15, 17 Lower Brass Grade 2
1 Mavis Harwood Pembroke Dock
2 Jacob Hancock Glannau Gwaun
3 Ray Koo Tenby Junior
Class 12,14,16,18 Brass Grade 3
1 Rosa Soloman Milford Haven Junior
2 Nia Llewellyn Neyland
3 Alex Collinson St Florence
3 Lucy Wintle Tenby Junior
HC Yori Evans Ger y Llan
Class 19+20 Open Brass Grade 4+
1 Teifion Owen Milford Haven Junior
2 Harvey Davies Milford Haven Junior
2 Haydn Gough Hakin Junior
3 Lucy Anthony Saundersfoot
HC Charlotte McSweeney St Florence
HC Hans Schmidt Croesgoch
Class 21 Violin + Viola Grade 2
1 Fern Grieve – Saundersfoot
2 Ella McKernan – Orielton
3 Casey Hayes – Tenby Junior
HC EthanTyrer – Glannau Gwaun
Class 22, 25 Strings Grade 3
1 Thomas Bowen – Ger y Llan
2 Carla Harrison – Saundersfoot
3 Emily Perkins – Bro Dewi
HC Sarah Likeman – Glan Cleddau
Class 24 Cello Grade 2 +
1 Dewi Jackson – Tenby Junior
2 Iolo Griffiths – Gelli Aur / Golden Grove
3 Daniel Davies – Prendergast
3 Leah Goffin – Prendergast
HC
Class 23,26,30 Open Strings
1 Seren Griffiths – Glan Cleddau
2 Emmie Tamilia – Neyland
3 Lihla Noble – Bro Dewi
HC
Class 29______________Harp Grade 2+
1 Aneirin Vaughan – Puncheston
2 Eleri Court – Ysgol y Frenni
2 Timali Jayathilaka – Redhill Prep
HC
Class 31 Piano Grade 2
1 Chloe Morris – Orielton
2 Alexa Horne – Croesgoch
3 Esyllt Corp – Maenclochog
HC Charlotte Lewis – Lamphey
Class 32 Piano Grade 3
1 Jencyn Corp – Maenclochog
1 Timali Jayathilaka – Redhill Prep
2 Harrison Goddard – Roch
3 Marilla Evans – Gelli Aur /Golden Grove
HC Carys Marie Evans-John – Spittal
HC Amber Eyles – Croesgoch
Class 33 Open Piano Grade 4+
1 Nell Evans – Gelli Aur / Golden Grove
2
3
HC
Class 35 Orchestral Percussion
1 Sara Llewellyn – Neyland
2 Iolo Evans – Wolfcastle
3 Morgan Bateman – Wolfcastle
HC Imogen Stace-Smith – Manorbier
HC Olivia Oxley – Prendergast
Class 36 Kit Percussion
1 Dylan Sanders-Swales – Johnston
2 Ashton Arnold – Hakin
3 Imogen Stace-Smith – Manorbier
HC Morgan Williams – Pembroke Dock
Class 38 Ensemble
1 Bro Dewi Recorder Sextet
2 Manorbier Wind Trio
3 Manorbier Music Ensemble
HC Saundersfoot String Quintet
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