Music festival hits the right notes

12:58pm Monday 19th November 2007

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The annual Secondary Schools' Music Festival, organised by Pembrokeshire County Council's Music Service and sponsored by Chevron, took place on Saturday at Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest.

Over 400 young musicians from the Pembrokeshire's eight secondary schools participated in the individual and ensemble competitions which took place during the morning and afternoon sessions.

The invited professional adjudicators were: Peter Morgan (percussion); Edward Burns (ensembles); Christopher Lovegrove (piano and keyboard); Antoinette Metcalfe (strings); Jonathan Rees (brass); Chris Ryan (jazz) Hugh Phillips (Woodwind); Timothy Angel (voice).

Again this year the adjudicators were greatly impressed with the high standards and strength of schools' music throughout the whole of the county.

At the evening concert, an enthusiastic audience enjoyed a feast of music which showed a great variety of musical styles.

The master of ceremonies was Chris Llewellyn, the County Music Co-ordinator. On behalf of the festival sponsors Chevron, Phil Thompson, expressed how pleased the company were to be able to be involved in this prestigious event featuring so many of the county's talented young musicians.

Performances were given by: Sir Thomas Picton School Orchestra (conducted by Richard Noyce); Ysgol Greenhill School Orchestra (Paul Rapi); Milford Haven School Jazz Band (Sarah Lloyd); Tasker Milward School Senior Vocal Ensemble (Sarah Richards); Ysgol Dewi Sant School Orchestra (Tom Earey); Pembroke School Concert Band (Sam Pullen); Ysgol Bro Gwaun Orchestra (Philippa Roberts); Ysgol Y Preseli Jazz Band and Singers (Gareth Sanders).

Over 300 musicians played in their respective school ensembles with the styles ranging from classical music to contemporary popular songs, jazz and film music.

Solo performances were given by the winners of the open competitions which had taken place earlier in the day: Winner of the Open Brass, Charlotte Phillips of Milford Haven School, performed Variations on Carnival of Venice' by Arban, accompanied by Mark Jones.

Flautist Rebbecca Griffiths, also of Milford Haven was the winner of the Open Woodwind class. She performed Andante and Scherzo' by Lois Ganne, accompanied by Stuart Evans.

Louise Mullane completed a hat-trick of individual wins for Milford Haven School by winning the Open Jazz with Against All Odds' by Phil Collins. Louis was accompanied by George Saunders.

The Open String competition was represented by violinist Laura Walker of Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest, who performed Aus der Heimat' by Smetena, accompanied by Richard Noyce.

The Open Percussion Class winner was William Edwards of Greenhill School, Tenby, who perfomed the first movement from Vibraphone Concerto' by Rosauro. He was accompanied at the piano by Paul Rapi.

Daniel Sajko of Ysgol Y Preseli, Crymych, was the winner of the Open Piano Class playing Liebestraume' by Franz Liszt.

Angharad Llewelyn of Pembroke School was the winner of the Open Vocal competition. Her performance in the evening concert of Tonight' from Bernstein's West Side Story was accompanied at the piano by her singing teacher, Sarah Benbow.

Also performing were the winners of the Open Instrumental and Vocal Ensembles.

Saxtet made it a memorable night for Milford Haven School. They performed Take a Chance' and Emily Kate'. The sax players were: Louis Mullane, Bethan Arnold, Alex Picton and Katie Groves.

Suzi McGregor, Sam Thomas and Lucinda John Duarte were the vocal trio from Ysgol Bro Gwaun who sang Woman in Love' by Barry and Robin Gibb.

On behalf of the adjudicators, Hugh Phillips congratulated everyone who had participated and helped to make the day such an outstanding success and announced that flautist Rebecca Griffiths from the evening's most successful school, Milford Haven, was the overall winner of this year's Festival.

Once again the strength and quality of Pembrokeshire Schools' music was evident at this event.

The young musicians of the County's Secondary Schools are grateful to Chevron for their sponsorship of this festival RESULTS Woodwind Class 1a Flute + Oboe, Bassoon Grade 4.

1. Millie Thomas, Preseli 2. Molly Brick, Tasker Milward, 3. Lily Davies, Preseli.

Class 1b Clarinet + Sax Grade 4 1. Catrin Johns, Sir Thomas Picton, 2. Emily Nicholas, Milford School, 3. Katie Iles, Sir Thomas Picton.

Class 2a Flute + Oboe Bassoon Grade 5.

1. Lucy Morris, Greenhill, 2.Bethany Harteveld, Milford School, 3.Claudia Belli, Greenhill.

Class 2b Clarinet + Sax Grade 5 1. Jake Lewis, Milford School, 2. Llyr Williams, Preseli, 3. Ben Thomas, Preseli.

Class 3a Flute + Oboe Bassoon Grade 6 1. Emily Tranter, Greenhill, 2. Dafydd Evans, Sir Thomas Picton, 3. Joelle Bowie-Hallam, Milford School, H.C. Fiona Griffiths, Greenhill.

Class 3b Clarinet + Sax Grade 6 1. Sian Evans, Pembroke, 2. Kirsty Page, Dewi Sant, 3. Anna Marjoram, Milford School.

Class 4 Grade 7 Woodwind 1. Danielle Harries, Greenhill, 2.Eleri Evans, Pembroke, 3. Hollie Lewis, Pembroke, H.C. Cethin Ravenhill, Pembroke.

Class 5 Open Woodwind 1. Rebecca Griffiths, Milford School, 2. Catherine Hare, Greenhill, 3. Litona Harries, Greenhill, H.C. Alyx Phillips, Sir Thomas Picton.

Brass Class 6 Grade 4 Brass 1 Thomas Jordan, Pembroke 2 James Bartlett, STP; Ryan Howells, STP; Ben Williams - Stacey, Bro Gwaun 3 Byron Phillips, Taskers; Bethan John, Dewi Sant H.C. Nick Smith, Dewi Sant.

Class 7 Grade 5 Brass 1. Ryan Balfe, Sir Thomas Picton, 2. Rhys Tyrell, Bro Gwaun, 3. Hugh Mason, Pembroke, H.C. George James, Pembroke & Sion Jones, Dewi Sant & Jason Powell, Pembroke.

Class 8 Grade 6 Brass 1. Gareth Trott, Tasker Milward, 2. Luke Thorpe, Sir Thomas Picton, & Lawrence Stalbow Best, Milford School, 3. Thomas Harries, Sir Thomas Picton, & Emyr Griffiths, Dewi Sant.

Class 8 Grade 7 Brass 1. Amy Phillips, Bro Gwaun, 2. Rhys Sajko, Preseli, 3. Jake Watson. Tasker Milward.

Class 10 Open Brass 1. Charlotte Phillips Milford School, 2. Joe Lewis, Greenhill & Ffion Haf Williams, Preseli 3. James Brawn Milford School, Emma Groves Milford School.

Strings Class 11 Strings Grade 4 1. Jake Stacey Bro Gwaun, 2. Lucy Lloyd, Greenhill, 3. Ellie Wainwright, Greenhill, H.C. Patrick Bunker, Pembroke.

Class 12 Strings Grade 5 1. Lara Thomas, Preseli 2. Christine Hicks, Milford School, 3. Alastair Davies, Bro Gwaun, H.C. Angharad James, Bro Gwaun, & Glesni Phillips, Preseli & Olivia Davies Milford.

Class13 Strings Grade 6 1. Emilia Belli, Greenhill, 2. Cethin Ravenhill, Pembroke 3. George Griffiths, Greenhill & Isabel Harries, Milford School, H.C. Georgia Williams, Greenhill, & Milly Lowe, Greenhill, & Chelsea Harries, Greenhill.

Class 14 Strings Grade 7 1. Rebecca Hobbs, Greenhill, 2. Hannah Gray, Greenhill, 3. Vaughan Davies, Bro Gwaun, H.C. Robert Mann, Dewi Sant, & Thomas Amico Padula, Sir Thomas Picton.

Class 15 Open Strings 1. Laura Walker, Sir Thomas Picton 2. Lily Whitehurst, Greenhill 3. Kathryn Slade Sir Thomas Picton & Freya Edwards, Bro Gwaun H.C. Fay Brickell, Greenhill, & Emma Clarke, Bro Gwaun, & Jade Jones, Sir Thomas Picton.

Piano Class 16 Piano Grade 4 1. Jago Neath Pembroke, 2. Mared Harries, Preseli & Caryl Lewis Preseli H.C. Brendan Bunker Pembroke & Todd Watson Sir Thomas Picton.

Class 17 Piano Grade 5 1. Alastair Davies, Bro Gwaun, 2. Eilish John, Bro Gwaun, 3. Blythe Anne, Preseli H.C. Dominic Cicotti, Preseli; Delun Gibby, Preseli; Lewis Cole, Pembroke; Emma Groves, Milford School & Tess Bamber, Sir Thomas Picton.

Class 18/19 Piano Grades 6 + 7 1. Daniel James, Pembroke, 2. Sam Turton, Greenhill, 3. Emilia Belli, Greenhill, H.C. Gemma Neath, Pembroke & George James, Pembroke.

Class 20 Open Piano 1. Daniel Sajko, Preseli 2. Catherine Hare, Greenhill 3. Natasha Van der Pas, Greenhill H.C. Alex Jowett, Dewi Sant; Vicky Santer, Milford.

Electronic Keyboard Class 21 Electronic Keyboard Grade 4 1. Angharad Hughes, Dewi Sant, 2. Jason Venables-John, Bro Gwaun, 3.Phillip Mayhew, Tasker Milward.

Class 22 Electronic Keyboard Grade 5 1. Matthew McCoy, Sir Thomas Picton, 2. Rebecca Mount Stephans, Dewi Sant & Jeremy Stone, Tasker Milward 3. Jamie Price, Tasker Milward.

Percussion Class 23/24 Kit Percussion Grades 3-5 1. Max Smith-Wrench, Greenhill, 2. James Taylor, Pembroke, 3. Lewys Rich, Greenhill.

Class 26 Orchestral Percussion Grades 4-6 1. Daniel Brown, Greenhill, 2. Angharad James, Dewi Sant, 3. Mollie Staples, Greenhill.

Class 25/27 Open Percussion 1. William Edwards, Greenhill, 2. Ashley Williams, Sir Thomas Picton, 3. Phillip Howells, Pembroke.

Vocals Class 28/30 Classical/ Non Classical Songs Years 7-9 1. Blythe Davies, Preseli, 2. Aled Davies, Milford School, 3. Emily Hughes, Dewi Sant.

Class 29 Classical Song Years 10-13 1. Stephanie Smith, Sir Thomas Picton, 2. Jessica Cale, Sir Thomas Picton, 3. Suzi McGregor, Bro Gwaun.

Class 31 Non Classical Song Jazz Years 10-13 1. Angharad Llewelyn, Pembroke 2. Lucinda John-Duarte 3. Matthew Jones, Tasker Milward H.C. Faye Parry, Dewi Sant.

Class 32 Grade 3-5 Jazz 1. Andrew Ross, Milford School 2. Karl Griffiths, Milford School, 3. Elinor Williams, Preseli.

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Class 33 Open Jazz 1. Louis Mullane, Milford School, 2. Katie Groves, Milford School, 3. Owain Jenkins, Preseli.

Ensembles Class 34 Classical Ensemble Grade 5 and below 1. Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Quartet 2. Pedwardd Blwyddyn 7 Preseli 3. Ysgol Bro Gwaun Trumpet Trio.

Class 35 Classical Ensemble Grades 5-8 1. Pembroke Woodwind Quartet 2. Milford Haven Sax Ensemble 3. Ysgol Preseli Cello Quartet.

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Class 36 Open Non Classical Ensemble 1. Saxtet, Milford School, 2. Clarinet Quartet, Greenhill, 3. Junior String Quartet, Greenhill.

Class 37 Vocal Ensembe 1. Suzi McGregor, Samantha Thomas, Lucinda John-Duarte, Bro Gwaun, 2. Andrew Ross, Vicki Sainter, Zoe Locke, Milford School 3. Tasker Voices - Ellen Jenkins, Lauren Phillips, Sarah Hughes.

Duets Class 38 Instrumental Duet 1 Jessica Lewis & Alice Thomas, STP 2 Charlotte Treharne & Natasha van der Pas, Greenhill 3 George James & Jago Neath, Pembroke.