More than 400 young musicians shine at Pembrokeshire Valero Festival

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.

Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service Philippa Roberts said: “The atmosphere at this year’s Valero Secondary Music Festival was wonderfully supportive, allowing every pupil to shine.

“It was a great example of the Music plan for Wales in action, with community, schools and Pembrokeshire Music Service working together to give young people outstanding musical opportunities. Our thanks go to Valero for their continued support.”

Ryan Block from Ysgol Bro Preseli, was announced as overall winner of this year’s festival.

Earlier in the day Ryan had won the open percussion class with his performance of ‘War Pigs’ by Black Sabbath.

The Open String competition winner was cellist Seren Barrett from Greenhill. She performed ‘Humoresque’ by WH Squire.

Open Jazz was won by bass guitarist Iestyn Barellie, from Haverfordwest High VC School. He performed ‘Amazing Grace’ by Victor Wooten.

Euphonium player Carys Rycroft of Ysgol Bro Gwaun won the Open Brass competition, playing ‘The Ash Grove’ by H Round.

The Open Piano & Harp competition was won by harpist Lleucu-Haf Thomas of Ysgol Bro Preseli. She performed ‘Sonata number 4’ by Thomas Parry.

Mia Burnett, of Haverfordwest High VC School, was the winner of the Open Vocals competition, performing ‘Silent Noon’ by Vaughan Williams.

Open Woodwind was won by flautist Gemma Armstrong, of Ysgol Bro Preseli. She performed the first movement of Poulenc’s flute sonata.

George Penney, of Milford Haven School, was the winner of the Open Guitar. He performed ‘YYZ’ by Rush.

The Open Vocal Ensemble class winners were a Vocal trio from Haverfordwest High VC School – Mia Burnett, Nyah McKee and Lois Capitao. They performed a lively rendition of ‘Joyful Joyful’ from Sister Act 2.

Triawd ffliwt Bro Preseli were winners of the Open Ensemble. They performed Boismortier’s Sonata in G for 3 flutes movements 1 & 2.

The final performers of the afternoon were The Monarchs from Milford Haven School, with their performance of Bon Jovi’s ‘You give love’. They were winners of the Open Rock and Pop band class.

The invited professional adjudicators – Timothy Angel and Ben Richards, vocal; Sam Baxter, ensemble; Catherine Hare, woodwind; Gareth Kirby, brass; Karin Jenkins, strings; Rhiannon Pritchard, piano/harp; Jenny Weir, jazz/vocals/guitar; Joel Rees, percussion/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. He added: “The wealth of musical talent within Pembrokeshire Music Service is evident to see and made my job both very rewarding and difficult.”

Piano and harp adjudicator Rhiannon Pritchard commented “Once again it was such a well organised fun event to be a part of, and the standard was so incredibly high!”

The results of the competitions held during the day were as follows:

SECONDARY VALERO 2025 RESULTS

WOODWIND

Grade 3 flute

• 1st – Ella-May Kirby, MHS
• 2nd – Maegan Naoe, HHVC
• 3^rd – Ella Howell, YHT

Grade 3 clarinet & sax

• 1^st – Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen
• 2^nd – Annabelle Jones, YHT
• 3^rd – Aurora Phillips, MHS

Grade 4 woodwind

• 1^st – Serena Ames, Redhill
• 2^nd – Sapphire Cook, MHS
• 3^rd – Imogen Holloway, YPD

Grade 5 woodwind

• 1^st – Angharad Thomas, Bro Preseli
• 2^nd – Matthew Picton, MHS
• 3^rd – Arlo Jones, Greenhill

Grade 6 woodwind

• 1^st – Tom Pounder, MHS
• 2^nd – Teri Aulehla-Atkin, HHVC

Open Woodwind

• 1^st – Gemma Armstrong, Bro Preseli
• 2^nd – Isabelle Blyth, YPD
• 3^rd – Harry Armstrong, MHS

BRASS

Grade 3 Brass

• 1^st – Freddie Coleman, YPD
• 2^nd – Isaac Phillips, Greenhill
• 3^rd – Zoey Pyart, HHVC

Grade 4 brass

• 1^st – Luca Talbot-English, YBG
• 2^nd – Angus Armstrong, MHS
• 3^rd – Ioan Evans, Greenhill

Grade 5 Brass

• 1^st – Ella-May Kirby, MHS
• 2^nd – Eliza Wood, Greenhill & Logan Rowe-Davies, HHVC
• 3^rd – Will Price, Greenhill
• HC – Bronwen Corp, Bro Preseli

Grade 6 Brass

• 1^st – Tristan George, HHVC
• 2^nd – Tobias Edwards, HHVC
• 3^rd – Harry Thomas, YPD

Open Brass

• 1^st – Carys Rycroft, Bro Preseli
• 2^nd – Eliza Wood, Greenhill
• 3^rd – Ioan Bromby, Greenhill
• HC – Archie Noyce, Greenhill & Kellan Rycroft, Bro Preseli

STRINGS

Grade 3 strings

• 1^st – Roberta Gale, YPD (cello)
• 2^nd – Sophia Williams, YPD
• 3^rd – Daisy Burnett, HHVC
• HC – Roberta Gale, YPD (violin)

Grade 4 strings

• 1^st – Una McFarlane, Caer Elen
• 2^nd – Chloe Jenkins-Simms, Bro Preseli
• 3^rd – Benny Brett, HHVC & Nel Freeman, YHT
• HC – Jakob Middlemist – HHVC, Lily Kingaby – YBG, Aaya Yunis – HHVC, Cecily Weaver – HHVC

Grade 5 strings

• 1^st – Elena Gould
• 2^nd – Isaac Frazer, Greenhill
• 3^rd – Ruby Rapi, Bro Preseli
• HC – Ella Howell – YHT, Eloise Barry – HHVC, Janelle Cabral – HHVC

Grade 6 strings

• 1^st – Nina Powell

Open strings

• 1^st – Seren Barrett, Greenhill
• 2^nd – Mia Burnett, HHVC & Cosmo Karenin, HHVC
• 3^rd – Tom Bridger, HHVC
• HC – Esyllt Corp, Bro Preseli

PIANO & HARP 

Grade 3 piano & harp

• 1^st – Poppy Hammersley, Bro Preseli
• 2^nd – Bronwen Corp, Bro Preseli
• 3^rd – Toby Armstrong, Bro Preseli
• HC – Gareth Phillips, Bro Preseli

Grade 4 piano & harp

• 1^st – Dev Saini, Bro Preseli
• 2^nd – Toby Slowgrove, HHVC
• 3^rd – Hywel Davies, Bro Preseli & Teifi James, YBG
• HC – Isla Hounsell, YHT

Grade 5 piano & harp

• 1^st – Steffan James, Caer Elen
• 2^nd – Myla Spencer, YBG
• 3^rd – Harry Thomas, YPD
• HC – Poppy Llewellin, HHVC

Grade 6 piano & harp

• 1^st –  Ruby Kleinjans, YBG
• 2^nd – Elena Gould
• 3^rd – Mischa Orford, Redhill
• HC – Abbie Collinson, Greenhill

Open piano & harp

• 1^st – Lleucu-Haf Thomas, Bro Preseli (harp)
• 2^nd – Lewis Lester-Payne, Pembrokeshire College
• 3^rd – Iestyn Barrellie, HHVC & Lleucu-Haf Thomas, Bro Preseli (piano)
• HC – Gabriel Blackwell, YBG

PERCUSSION 

Drum kit grade 3-5

• 1^st – Ptolemy Karenin, YBG
• 2^nd – Griff Owens, HHVC & Dylan Mitchell, MHS
• 3^rd – Isaac Vaughn, HHVC & Ifan Murphy, Caer Elen
• HC – Haydon Straviniders, MHS

Open drum kit

• 1^st – Ryan Block, Bro Preseli
• 2^nd – Osian Ridgway, Henry Tudor
• 3^rd – Taya Gardner-Thomas, HHVC
• HC – Teilo Kite, YPD

JAZZ

Jazz grade 3-5

• 1^st – Erin Dando, MHS
• 2^nd  – Matthew Picton, MHS
• 3^rd – Felicity Bettridge, MHS

Open Jazz

• 1^st – Iestyn Barrellie, HHVC
• 2^nd – Matthew Shaw, Greenhill
• 3^rd – Tom Pounder, MHS

GUITAR

Open guitar

• 1^st – George Penney, MHS
• 2^nd – Rosie Delaney, HHVC
• 3^rd – Lewis Murray, YBG & Amy Rudder, HHVC

VOCALS

Musical Theatre & classical vocals years 7-9

• 1^st – Benny Brett, HHVC & Pixie Coast, HHVC
• 2^nd – Alisha Panesar, HHVC & Erin Tilling, HHVC
• 3^rd – Toby Armstrong, Bro Preseli
• HC – Charlotte Riley, Caer Elen & Tilly Prevel, YHT

Pop vocals years 7-9

• 1^st – Nancy Bhari, YHT
• 2^nd – Annabelle Evans, YPD
• 3^rd – Frazer Johnston, HHVC
• HC – Lilla Gibbs, YHT & Holly Bowler YPD

Musical Theatre & classical vocals years 10-13

• 1^st – Connie Lewis, YHT
• 2^nd – Hollie Draper, YPD
• 3^rd – Lois Capitao, HHVC
• HC – Maisie Davey – YHT, Ozzy Evans – HHVC

Pop vocals years 10-13

• 1^st – Charlotte Bentley, HHVC
• 2^nd – Izzy Roberts, MHS
• 3^rd – Martha Bhari, YHT
• HC – Sophia Jones – YHT, Owen Gibby – MHS

Open vocals

• 1^st – Mia Burnett, HHVC
• 2^nd – Millie Evans-Thomas, Greenhill
• 3^rd – Ruby Panesar, HHVC
• HC – Lilwen Ford – Bro Preseli, Bella Macare – Pembrokeshire College, Eva Rees – MHS, Nyah McKee – HHVC 

ENSEMBLES 

Instrumental ensembles up to grade 5

• 1^st – Ysgol Caer Elen String Trio
• 2^nd – Violin, cello & piano trio (Elena, Roberta – YPD, Eva – Redhill)
• 3^rd – YHT woodwind ensemble

Open instrumental ensemble

• 1^st – Triawd ffliwt, Ysgol Bro Preseli
• 2^nd – Deuawd Telyn a Ffidl, Ysgol Bro Preseli
• 3^rd – HHVC cello quartet

Open vocal ensemble

• 1^st – HHVC vocal trio – Joyful Joyful
• 2^nd – YHT vocal duet
• 3^rd – HHVC vocal duet

Open rock and pop ensemble

• 1^st – The Monarchs, MHS
• 2^nd – Ysgol Bro Gwaun Rock Band
• 3^rd – Rudz n Roses, HHVC
• HC – Caer Elen Band 1 & HHVC Band 1