The Rotary Southern Wales Final of Young Musician in Islwyn School in Blackwood featured two talented musicians from West Wales.
Mared Phillips from Wolfscastle, a pupil of Ysgol Bro Preseli in Crymych was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Narberth and Whitland. Mared a vocalist of great talent really impressed the judges. It was Mared second time winning this competition and she went on last year to be the runner up at the Sothern Wales and South West England Cluster competition in Taunton.
Also in the instrumentalist part of the competition was Dylan Sanders Swales sponsored by the Rotary Club of Haverforwest. Dylan from Milford Haven attends Haverfordwest High School was sensational on the drums.
The Rotary Young Musician Competition is organised and promoting by Rotary International in Great Britain and Irelan. There are four stages to the competition, each designed to support and encourage the development of musical talent. The competition aims to offer young people the experience of performing on a public stage and an opportunity to showcase their musical talent. Each contestant gets impartial feedback and assessment of their performance by experienced adjudicators. It’s so inspiring to see so many talented young musicians shining in a competitive environment. It really is encouraging that competitions like this are still running this successfully and proving Rotary can be a real force in improving the futures of young people.”
Both Mared and Dylan had won their club Young Musician and West Wales Area finals before progressing to the Southern Wales Final.
Both Students will progress to represent Southern Wales at the Southern Wales and South West England final to be held at Howells School in Cardiff featuring Young Chefs, Youth Speaks (the Debate) and the Young Musician in Cardiff.
The three competitions will form part of a Rotary Festival of Youth on the weekend of 23/24th March 2024. The Young Chef will take place at the Cardiff and Vale College and the Youth Speaks (the Debate) at Howells School on Sat 23rd and Young Musician at Howells School on Sunday 24th 2024.
Dylan said the win was “totally unexpected as there was such talent at the competition”. He’s super excited to perform in Cardiff and the Super Mario hat will be making an appearance again. He and Mared are both grateful to their sponsoring clubs Narberth and Whitland Rotary and Haverfordwest.
We wish both Mared and Dylan the very best of luck in this stage of the competition. The Rotary Young Musician National Final will take place in Alcester, Warwickshire in the over the weekend of the 21/22nd April 2024.
The Rotary Southern Wales Final of Young Musician in Islwyn School in Blackwood featured two talented musicians from West Wales.