Young musicians delight at Pembrokeshire Valero Secondary Schools’ Music festival
Young musicians delight at Pembrokeshire Valero Secondary Schools’ Music festival
More than 400 secondary age musicians took part in a variety of individual and ensemble competitions at the Pembrokeshire Valero Secondary Schools’ Music Festival held at Ysgol Caer Elen.
Musicians from the County’s Secondary Schools, Pembrokeshire College and further afield took part at the event on November 16th.
Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service Philippa Roberts said:“Heartfelt congratulations to all the pupils who participated in the festival. It has been truly inspiring to see students enthusiastically sharing their musical talents in a supportive and encouraging environment.”
Mared Phillips from Ysgol Bro Preseli, was announced as overall winner of this year’s festival.
Earlier in the day Mared had sung ‘Le Colibri’ by Ernest Chausson. She was also the winner of the Open Woodwind competition, performing the Second movement of Saint-Saens oboe sonata.
The Open String competition winner was cellist Seren Barrett from Greenhill. She performed ‘Tarantella’ by WH Squire.
Open Jazz was won by pianist Iestyn Barellie, also from Greenhill. He performed ‘Sturdy build’ by Christopher Norton. Another double winner, Iestyn also won the Open Guitar competition, performing ‘Sir Duke’ by Stevie Wonder.
Libby Phillips of Haverfordwest High VC School was the winner of the Open percussion class, performing ‘Toccata’ by David Glynne.
Trombonist Ianto Evans of Ysgol Bro Gwaun won the Open Brass competition, playing ‘Thoughts of Love’ by Arthur Prior.
The Open Piano competition was won by Loti Makepeace of Ysgol Bro Preseli. She performed ‘Jingo’ by Christopher Norton.
The Open Vocal Ensemble class winners were a vocal trio from Haverfordwest High VC School - Mia Burnett, Honey Johnston and Briana Havard - who performed ‘Close to you’ by Burt Bacharach.
A piano and harp duo from Jenifer Rees and Eliza Bradbury, Pembrokeshire College, won the open Ensemble category. They performed ‘Preseli Skies’ by Monica Stadler.
The final performers of the afternoon were the Haverfordwest High VC expressivearts band, who performed ‘I’m still standing’ by Elton John. They were winners of the Rock and Pop ensemble competition.
The invited professional adjudicators - Timothy Angel, vocal; Matthew Jenkins, ensemble; Catherine Hare, woodwind; Robin Hackett, brass; Karin Jenkins, strings; Bethan Harkin, piano/harp and jazz; Ben Richards, instrumental; Philip Davies, percussion and rock and pop - were greatly impressed with the high standard and strength of schools’ music on show from across the County.
Timothy Angel, vocal adjudicator, expressed his admiration for the day: “The wealth of musical talent within Pembrokeshire Music Service is evident to see and made my job both very rewarding and difficult.”
The results of the competitions held during the day were as follows:
WOODWIND
Grade 3 flute
1st – Imogen Holloway, YPD
2nd – Ruby Bunston, YBG
3rd – Saphire Cook, MHS
HC – Angharad Chin & Caitlyn Sanders-Swales, MHS
Grade 3 clarinet & sax
1st – Holly Smith, HHVC
2nd – Katherine Jones, Henry Tudor
3rd – Jed Cox, Greenhill
HC – Felicity Betteridge, MHS; Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen
Grade 4 woodwind
1st – Catrin Jones, Caer Elen
2nd – Erin Dando, MHS
3rd – Mali Jones-Hughes, HHVC
Grade 5 woodwind
1st – Ela-Gwennon Jones, Bro Preseli
2nd – Tom Pounder, MHS
3rd – Emily Dickinson, Greenhill
Grade 6 woodwind
1st – Eryn Howlett, MHS
2nd – Teri Aulehla-Atkin, HHVC
3rd – Eva Rees, MHS
Open Woodwind
1st – Mared Phillips, Bro Preseli
2nd – Libby Phillips, HHVC
3rd – Gemma Armstrong, Bro Preseli & Harry Armstrong, Pembrokeshire College
HC – Gwenna Kennerley, HHVC & Mia Young, Greenhill
Open vocals
1st – Mared Phillips, Bro Preseli
2nd – Corey Hooper-Rees, HHVC
3rd – Micah Bealby, Pembrokeshire College
HC – Ruby Panesar, HHVC & Nyah McKee, HHVC
ENSEMBLES
Instrumental ensembles grade 5-
1st – Roberta Gale, YPD & Eva Corr, Redhill – piano duet
2nd – Gemma Armstrong, Ollie Towe & Anna Dafydd – Bro Preseli flute trio
3rd – Toby Hounsell & Isla Hounsell – Henry Tudor piano duet
Open instrumental ensemble
1st - Pembrokeshire College harp & piano duet
2nd – HHVC flute ensemble
3rd – HHVC String quartet
Open vocal ensemble
1st – HHVC vocal trio
2nd – Pembrokeshire College vocal ensemble
3rd – Haverfordwest High Six
Open rock and pop ensemble
1st – HHVC Expressive arts band
2nd – YBG folk band
3rd – The Monarchs, MHS
HC – Caer Elen “Band 2” & MHS Rock Band
Photos: 1. Overall winner Mared Phillips, Ysgol Bro Preseli 2. Open solo class winners l-r Mared Phillips, Loti Makepeace, Ianto Evans, Seren Barrett, Iestyn Barrellie, Libby Phillips with Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service Philippa Roberts, Stephen Thornton of Valero, Miranda Morgan, Music coordinator. 3. Winners of the open ensemble classes - harp & piano duo, HHVC Expressive Arts Band, HHVC vocal trio).
Young musicians delight at Pembrokeshire Valero Secondary Schools’ Music festival
Young musicians delight at Pembrokeshire Valero Secondary Schools’ Music festival
More than 400 secondary age musicians took part in a variety of individual and ensemble competitions at the Pembrokeshire Valero Secondary Schools’ Music Festival held at Ysgol Caer Elen.
Musicians from the County’s Secondary Schools, Pembrokeshire College and further afield took part at the event on November 16th.
Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service Philippa Roberts said:“Heartfelt congratulations to all the pupils who participated in the festival. It has been truly inspiring to see students enthusiastically sharing their musical talents in a supportive and encouraging environment.”
Mared Phillips from Ysgol Bro Preseli, was announced as overall winner of this year’s festival.
Earlier in the day Mared had sung ‘Le Colibri’ by Ernest Chausson. She was also the winner of the Open Woodwind competition, performing the Second movement of Saint-Saens oboe sonata.
The Open String competition winner was cellist Seren Barrett from Greenhill. She performed ‘Tarantella’ by WH Squire.
Open Jazz was won by pianist Iestyn Barellie, also from Greenhill. He performed ‘Sturdy build’ by Christopher Norton. Another double winner, Iestyn also won the Open Guitar competition, performing ‘Sir Duke’ by Stevie Wonder.
Libby Phillips of Haverfordwest High VC School was the winner of the Open percussion class, performing ‘Toccata’ by David Glynne.
Trombonist Ianto Evans of Ysgol Bro Gwaun won the Open Brass competition, playing ‘Thoughts of Love’ by Arthur Prior.
The Open Piano competition was won by Loti Makepeace of Ysgol Bro Preseli. She performed ‘Jingo’ by Christopher Norton.
The Open Vocal Ensemble class winners were a vocal trio from Haverfordwest High VC School - Mia Burnett, Honey Johnston and Briana Havard - who performed ‘Close to you’ by Burt Bacharach.
A piano and harp duo from Jenifer Rees and Eliza Bradbury, Pembrokeshire College, won the open Ensemble category. They performed ‘Preseli Skies’ by Monica Stadler.
The final performers of the afternoon were the Haverfordwest High VC expressivearts band, who performed ‘I’m still standing’ by Elton John. They were winners of the Rock and Pop ensemble competition.
The invited professional adjudicators - Timothy Angel, vocal; Matthew Jenkins, ensemble; Catherine Hare, woodwind; Robin Hackett, brass; Karin Jenkins, strings; Bethan Harkin, piano/harp and jazz; Ben Richards, instrumental; Philip Davies, percussion and rock and pop - were greatly impressed with the high standard and strength of schools’ music on show from across the County.
Timothy Angel, vocal adjudicator, expressed his admiration for the day: “The wealth of musical talent within Pembrokeshire Music Service is evident to see and made my job both very rewarding and difficult.”
The results of the competitions held during the day were as follows:
WOODWIND
Grade 3 flute
1st – Imogen Holloway, YPD
2nd – Ruby Bunston, YBG
3rd – Saphire Cook, MHS
HC – Angharad Chin & Caitlyn Sanders-Swales, MHS
Grade 3 clarinet & sax
1st – Holly Smith, HHVC
2nd – Katherine Jones, Henry Tudor
3rd – Jed Cox, Greenhill
HC – Felicity Betteridge, MHS; Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen
Grade 4 woodwind
1st – Catrin Jones, Caer Elen
2nd – Erin Dando, MHS
3rd – Mali Jones-Hughes, HHVC
Grade 5 woodwind
1st – Ela-Gwennon Jones, Bro Preseli
2nd – Tom Pounder, MHS
3rd – Emily Dickinson, Greenhill
Grade 6 woodwind
1st – Eryn Howlett, MHS
2nd – Teri Aulehla-Atkin, HHVC
3rd – Eva Rees, MHS
Open Woodwind
1st – Mared Phillips, Bro Preseli
2nd – Libby Phillips, HHVC
3rd – Gemma Armstrong, Bro Preseli & Harry Armstrong, Pembrokeshire College
BRASS
Grade 3 Brass
1st – Eliza Wood, Greenhill
2nd – Tristan George, HHVC
3rd – Logan Rowe-Davies, HHVC
Grade 4 brass
1st – Eilidh Frazer, Greenhill
2nd – Teilo Corp, Bro Preseli
3rd – Bronwen Corp, Bro Preseli
HC – Luca Talbot-English, YBG
Grade 5 Brass
1st – Harry Thomas, YPD
2nd – Owain Williams, HHVC
3rd – Idris Leeming-Hicks, Caer Elen & Cornelia Harries, Bro Preseli
Grade 6 Brass
1st – Eliza Wood, Greenhill
2nd – Archie Noyce, Greenhill
3rd – Jaap Harries, Bro Preseli
HC – Gwilym Jones, Bro Preseli
Open Brass
1st – Ianto Evans, YBG
2nd – Marilla Evans, Bro Preseli
3rd – Carys Rycroft, Bro Preseli
HC – Ifan Evans, Bro Preseli & Morgan Price, Pembrokeshire College
STRINGS
Grade 3 strings
1st – Sybilla Couzens
2nd – Chloe Jenkins-Sims, Bro Preseli
3rd – Benny Brett, HHVC
HC – Nel Freeman, Henry Tudor & Lily Kingaby, YBG
Grade 4 strings
1st – Eloise Barry, HHVC
2nd – Janelle Cabral, HHVC & Brooke Paterson, YBG
3rd – Rosie Basford-Leslie, HHVC
HC – Izaac Frazer, Greenhill & Eira Kaill-Franks, YPD
Grade 5 strings
1st – Ruby Rapi, Bro Preseli
2nd – Nina Powell & Elena Gould
3rd – Cosmo Karenin, HHVC
HC – Claudia Couzens, Redhill
Grade 6 strings
1st – Annabel John, YPD
2nd – Gwenna Kennerley, HHVC
Open strings
1st – Seren Barrett, Greenhill
2nd – Mia Burnett, HHVC
3rd - Maria Cabral, HHVC
HC – Tom Bridger, YPD, Esyllt Corp, Bro Preseli & Sebastian Semaani, YPD
PIANO & HARP
Grade 3 & 4 piano & harp
1st – Hywel Davies, Bro Preseli
2nd – Dev Saini, Bro Preseli & Eva Corr, Redhill
3rd – Elizabeth Evans, HHVC
HC – Toby Slowgrove
Grade 5 piano & harp
1st – Ruby Kleinjans
2nd – Roberta Gale, YPD & Elena Gould
3rd – Amber O’Connor, Bro Preseli & Mischa Orford
Grade 6 piano & harp
1st – Tom Bridger, YPD
2nd – Toby Hounsell, Henry Tudor
3rd – Siddha Saini, Bro Preseli
HC – Gabriel Blackwell & Nikita Vajrala
Open piano & harp
1st – Loti Makepeace, Bro Preseli
2nd – Cosmo Karenin, HHVC
3rd – Ianto Evans, YBG & Sebastian Semaani, YPD
HC – Iestyn Barrellie, Greenhill
PERCUSSION
Drum kit grade 3-6
1st – Poppy Delaney, HHVC
2nd – Teilo Kite, YPD
3rd – Regan Phillips, MHS
HC – Haydon Straviniders, MHS
Overall Open percussion
Libby Phillips, xylophone, HHVC
Open tuned percussion
1st Libby Phillips, HHVC
Open drum kit
1st – Osian Ridgway, Henry Tudor
2nd – Libby Phillips, HHVC
3rd – Ryan Block, Bro Preseli
HC – Sam Berry, YBG & Will Rowe, HHVC
JAZZ
Jazz grade 3-5
1st – Matthew Picton, MHS
Open Jazz
1st – Iestyn Barrellie, Greenhill
2nd – Matthew Shaw, Greenhill
3rd – Harry Armstrong, MHS
HC – Tom Pounder, MHS
GUITAR
Open guitar
1st – Iestyn Barrellie, Greenhill
2nd – George Penney, MHS
3rd – Willis Riley, Greenhill
HC – Lewis Murray, YBG, Steffan James, Caer Elen & Leo Argent, Henry Tudor
VOCALS
Musical Theatre & classical vocals years 7-9
1st – Pixie Coast, HHVC
2nd – Toby Armstrong, Bro Preseli
3rd – Hollie Draper, YPD
HC – Ruby Sunderland, HHVC & Benny Brett, HHVC
Pop vocals years 7-9
1st – Sophia Jones, Henry Tudor
2nd – Brodie Chalmers, HHVC
3rd – Izzy Roberts, MHS & Caitlyn Sanders-Swales, MHS
HC – Martha Bhari, Henry Tudor
Musical Theatre & classical vocals years 10-13
1st – Sara Gwilliam, HHVC
2nd – Lily Davies, HHVC
3rd – Saoirse Whitehead, HHVC
HC – Esyllt Corp, Bro Preseli & Arianna Lister, Caer Elen
Pop vocals years 10-13
1st – Beca Phillips, Greenhill
2nd – Maisie Tennick, Caer Elen
3rd – Lacey Mattsen, HHVC
HC – Gwenna Kennerley, HHVC & Mia Young, Greenhill
Open vocals
1st – Mared Phillips, Bro Preseli
2nd – Corey Hooper-Rees, HHVC
3rd – Micah Bealby, Pembrokeshire College
HC – Ruby Panesar, HHVC & Nyah McKee, HHVC
ENSEMBLES
Instrumental ensembles grade 5-
1st – Roberta Gale, YPD & Eva Corr, Redhill – piano duet
2nd – Gemma Armstrong, Ollie Towe & Anna Dafydd – Bro Preseli flute trio
3rd – Toby Hounsell & Isla Hounsell – Henry Tudor piano duet
Open instrumental ensemble
1st - Pembrokeshire College harp & piano duet
2nd – HHVC flute ensemble
3rd – HHVC String quartet
Open vocal ensemble
1st – HHVC vocal trio
2nd – Pembrokeshire College vocal ensemble
3rd – Haverfordwest High Six
Open rock and pop ensemble
1st – HHVC Expressive arts band
2nd – YBG folk band
3rd – The Monarchs, MHS
HC – Caer Elen “Band 2” & MHS Rock Band
Photos: 1. Overall winner Mared Phillips, Ysgol Bro Preseli 2. Open solo class winners l-r Mared Phillips, Loti Makepeace, Ianto Evans, Seren Barrett, Iestyn Barrellie, Libby Phillips with Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service Philippa Roberts, Stephen Thornton of Valero, Miranda Morgan, Music coordinator. 3. Winners of the open ensemble classes - harp & piano duo, HHVC Expressive Arts Band, HHVC vocal trio).