Primary school children hit all the right notes at popular festival of music

Pembrokeshire Music Service welcomed pupils from across the county to share their musical talents with a delighted audience at Ysgol Caer Elen on February 24th.

St Oswalds School pupil Alice Thomas, age eight, was crowned overall winner of the festival following an outstanding performance of Galop by Charles Bohm on her violin.

This year’s event included the addition of a “Come and Play” class, where learners who were at the start of their musical journey could come and share their music with each other.

Philippa Roberts, Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service said: “It was wonderful to listen to the performances of all the young musicians, particularly those who are new to playing. Congratulations to each participant for their commendable efforts.

“The implementation of the New Music Plan for Wales has enabled Pembrokeshire Music Service to offer essential progression opportunities for our pupils which includes our new Second Steps ensemble who delivered an outstanding performance at the spotlight concert. Da iawn pawb!”

The Spotlight concert opened with a bang as 45 players from across the County’s Second Steps ensembles came together for their first public performance. These ensembles, for children in Years Three to Six, only began in September.

Open class winners who performed at the Spotlight Concert included Matthew Picton, of Gelliswick School, who performed Allegro Vivace by Singelee on his Saxophone; Mali Macfarlane, who performed A Whole New World by Alan Menken on the Cornet and Amber O’Connor, Ysgol Eglwyswrw, who performed Concerto by O’Carolan on the Harp.

Griff Nicholas, from Ysgol Casmael, performed She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult on Drums and the ensemble winners were Golden Grove School’s Wolfgang Evans and Betsy Adamiec who performed a piano duet of Faraway by Allan Bullard.

Events coordinator for Pembrokeshire Music Service, Miranda Morgan, added: “We are extremely grateful to Valero, as always, for sponsoring our event. When our last primary festival was held, the current Year Six pupils would have been in Year Two, so this was the first time performing in the festival for every single child present. They should all be very proud of themselves.”

Pembrokeshire Music Service Primary Valero Music Festival 2024 Results

Woodwind

Initial Grade:

1^st – Seren Holder, Hafan y Mor

2^nd – Eva Frearson, Hafan y Mor

3^rd – Eifion James, St Oswalds

HC – Jessica Lynch, Casmael

Grade 1:

1^st – Oliver Davis, Johnston

2^nd – Annabel Ladd, Croesgoch

3^rd – Evie Towe,  St Dogmaels

Grade 2:

1^st – Angharad Chinn, MHCPS

2^nd – Autumn Shepherd, Coastlands

3^rd – Saphire Cook, MHCPS

Open:

1^st – Matthew Picton, Gelliswick

2^nd – Elin Rodriguez, Hook

3^rd – Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen

Brass:

Initial Grade:

1^st – Iolo Sims, Caer Elen

2^nd – Henry Woods, St Dogmaels

3^rd – Polly Summers, YPD & Penny Ibberson-Senior, Roch

Lower Brass Grade 1:

1^st – Isaac Phillips, Saundersfoot

2^nd – Aria White, Saundersfoot

3^rd – Thomas Codd, Glannau Gwaun & Archie Llewellyn, Tenby VC

HC – TJ Stewart, Glannau Gwaun

Trumpet & Cornet Grade 1:

1^st – Zoey Pyart, Prendergast

2^nd – Isla Griffiths, Saundersfoot

3^rd – Ella-Mae Kurby, MHCPS

HC – Freddie Coleman, YPD

Grade 2:

1^st – Henry Slade-Davies, Llanychllwydog & Eilidh Frazer, Tenby VC

Open:

1^st – Mali Macfarlane, Caer Elen

2^nd – Idris Leeming-Hicks, Caer Elen

3^rd – Elizabeth Davies, Saundersfoot,

HC – Elin Jones, Bro Ingli

Strings

Initial grade:

1^st – Ashley Cristobel, Prendergast

2^nd – Efa Britton, Johnston

3^rd – Bella Carrier, St Oswalds

Grade 1:

1^st – Lily Kingaby, Casmael

2^nd – Vivienne King, Hafan y Mor

3^rd – Celeste Watts, Roch

HC – Isla Griffiths, Saundersfoot

Grade 2:

1^st – Leila Powell

2^nd – Genula Wickramaarachichi, Prendergast

3^rd – Harrison Shepherd, Caer Elen

Open:

1^st – Alice Thomas, St Oswalds

2^nd – Nina Powell

3^rd – Chloe Jenkins Simms, Hafan y Mor

Piano & Harp

Initial grade:

1^st – Gwen Porter

2^nd – Mia Rogers, Lamphey & Ffion Fenrich, Cilgerran

3^rd – Alice Ng, Caer Elen

HC – Eva Allen, Lamphey

Grade 1:

1^st – Poppy Hammersley, Brynconin

2^nd – Jessica Lynch, Casmael

3^rd – Annabel Ladd, Croesgoch

HC – Darcy Taylor – Lamphey, George Thomas, Layla McGilloway – Lamphey, Phoebe Ritchie – Caer Elen, Haydn Griffiths – Caer Elen, Noah Worrall, Scarlett Chandra – Caer Elen.

Grade 2:

1^st – Eva Evans, Wiston

2^nd – Millie Griffiths, Wiston & Cadi Haf Marshall-Jones, Bro Preseli

3^rd – Elsbeth Slade-Davies, Llanychllwydog

Open:

1^st – Amber O’Connor, Eglwyswru

2^nd – Mischa Orford, Tavernspite

3^rd – Roberta Gale, YPD

Percussion

Initial Grade:

1^st – Maddie Wright, Saundersfoot

2^nd – Harri George, Casmael

3^rd – Charlie Cheeseman, Saundersfoot

HC – Efan Rees, Casmael & Alfie Hughes, Tenby VC

Open:

1^st – Griff Nicholas, Casmael

2^nd – Edward Batchelor, Caer Elen

3^rd – Max Griffiths, Caer Elen & Alex Youngs, Johnston

HC – Owain James, Casmael & Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen

Ensembles

1^st – Golden Grove piano duet (Wolfgang Evans & Betsy Adamiec)

2^nd – Bro Preseli Harp Duo (Cadi Haf Marshall-Jones & Elen Davies)

3^rd – Piano ensemble (Roberta Gale, Seren Reason & Poppy Burton)