Tuba triumphs at music festival

Tuba player Aled Meredith-Barrett from Ysgol Dewi Sant was the overall winner at this year’s Secondary Schools Valero Music Festival.

The annual festival, which is organised by the Pembrokeshire County Council Music Service and sponsored by Valero, took place at Sir Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest last Saturday (November 14th).

Over 200 young musicians from the County’s eight county secondary schools took part in individual and ensemble competitions throughout the day.

Later in the evening an enthusiastic audience enjoyed a special concert showcasing the individual winners and the winners of the instrumental and vocal ensemble competitions.

Every secondary school in the county was represented by their school band or orchestra.

The overall winner Aled Meredith-Barrett was presented with the Tim Bourne Memorial Cup by County Music Coordinator, Chris Llewellyn.

Earlier in the evening Aled, who won the Open Brass competition, had performed the 1st movement of the Tuba Concerto by Edward Gregson.

Winner of the Open Woodwind competition was flautist Daniel Jones from Tasker Milward who performed In Ireland by Hamilton Harty.

The Open String competition winner was violinist Eleanor Hodgson from Pembrokeshire College who performed Preludium and Allegro by Kraisler accompanied by Seimon Morris

The Open Jazz competition winner was guitarist Matthew Collins who performed April Kisses by Eddie Long.

Anna Phillips from Castle School was the winner of the Open Piano class performing Habanera by Chabrier.

The Open Vocal Competition was won by Aaron Kendall from Sir Thomas Picton School who sang You never threw a party for me by Mal Pope, accompanied by Clive Raymond.

Meanwhile the Open Percussion class winner was Joey Robbins from Ysgol Y Preseli who played on a solo drum kit with CD backing.

The Open Vocal Ensemble class winners were the year 10 vocal group from Sir Thomas Picton. Eve Pritchard, Eleri Edwards and Leah Bower performed Royals by Lord accompanied by Sarah Benbow.

The Open Instrumental Ensemble competition was won by Tasker Milward Baroque Trio.Ben Richards, Luzelle Davies and Daniel Jones performed a short concerto by Quantz.

The invited professional adjudicators – Timothy Angel, voice; Denis Mahoney  brass; Lara James , woodwind; Alun Williams, ensembles; Karin Jenkins, strings;  Steffan Ciccotti, jazz and piano, Peter Morgan, percussion – were greatly impressed with the high standard and strength of schools’ music on show from across the County.

Also performing at the evening concert were: Sir Thomas Picton School Orchestra (conducted by Chris Gillatt); Ysgol Greenhill School Jazz Band (Sammy Hughes), Milford Haven School Wind Band (Gareth Sanders-Swales); Ysgol Dewi Sant School Orchestra (Tom Earey); Pembroke School Orchestra (Kevin Shanklin); Ysgol Bro Gwaun Show Band (Bethan Walters); Ysgol y Preseli Orchestra (Gareth Sanders-Swales), Tasker Milward School Jazz Ensemble (Chris Gillatt).

County Music Coordinator and Festival MC Chris Llewellyn thanked the adjudicators, teachers, parents and students for making the Festival such a success.

“Once again the strength and quality of Pembrokeshire Schools’ music is evident at this event,” he said.

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

WOODWIND

Class 1a Grade 4 Flute + Recorder

1. Megan Rees- Ysgol Dewi Sant
2. Cassandra Favorido- Pembroke
3. Henry White- Sir Thomas Picton

Class 1b Grade 4 Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon + Sax

1. Tom Wears – Sir Thomas Picton
2. Caitlyn Arran – Milford Haven
3. Sam Burton – Milford Haven

Class 2a Grade 5 Flute

1. Elizabeth Ross – Sir Thomas Picton
2. Anna Long- Castle School
3. Bethan Miles – Greenhill
H.C. Jemma Hurds- Greenhill
Elen  Maycock – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

Class 2b Grade 5 Clarinet + Sax

1. Sam Hodgson – Pembroke
2. Kaitlyn Carlson – Milford Haven
3. Joe Jones – Milford Haven
H.C. Jasmine John – Milford Haven

Class 3 Grade 6 Woodwind

1. Jemma Hurds – Greenhill
2. James Crowney-Richards – Greenhill
3. Georgina Morris- Sir Thomas Picton
HC. Cerys Adams – Pembroke

Class 4 Grade 7 Woodwind

1. Eve Humphreys – Pembroke
2. Olivia Tomp – Castle School
3. James Crowney-Richards – Greenhill
HC. Thomas Carew – Milford Haven

Class 5/6 Open Woodwind

1. Daniel Jones – Tasker Milward
2. Chloe Morgan – Sir Thomas Picton
3. Elizabeth James – Sir Thomas Picton
HC. Olivia Rogers – Sir Thomas Picton

BRASS

Class 7 Grade 4 Brass

1. Leah Harries – Milford Haven
2. Eirian Rutherford – Tasker Milward
3. Idris Rutherford – Tasker Milward

Class 8 Grade 5 Brass

1. Ross Owen _ Milford Haven
2. Sean Jenkins – Ysgol Bro Gwaun
3. Sara Howell – Ysgol Y Preseli

Class 9 Grade 6 Brass

1. Nia Williams – Pembroke
2. Alys Owens – Preseli
3. Rachael Morgan – Preseli
H.C. Monty Kirner – Greenhill

Class 10 Grade 7 Brass

1. Jonathan Wild – Milford Haven
2.Rhiannon Andrasko – Preseli
3. Joe Richards – Tasker Milward

Class 11/12 Open Brass

1.Aled Meredith-Barrett- Ysgol Dewi Sant
2.Geraint Harries- Ysgol Preseli
3.Ben Richards- Tasker Milward
H.C.Matthew Page-Davies-Ysgol Dewi Sant

STRINGS

Class 13 Strings Grade 4

1. William Lewis – Ysgol Dewi Sant
2. Kelis Davis – Greenhill
3. Seren Phillips – Ysgol y Preseli
HC. Eve Mathias – Ysgol y Preseli

Class14 Strings Grade 5

1. Annest Davies – Ysgol y Preseli
2. Hollie Bartlett – Greenhill
2. Awen Davies – Ysgol y Preseli
2. Tess Watson – Tasker Milward
3. Grace Stangroome – Ysgol y Preseli
HC. Iris Lander  – Tasker Milward
HC. Lotty Davies – Tasker Milward
HC. Elen Roach – Ysgol y Preseli
HC. Emily Matthews – Ysgol y Preseli

Class15 Strings Grade 6

1. Rhianna Wade – Sir Thomas Picton
2. Geraint Pickard-Skeats – Ysgol Dewi Sant
Rory Staden-Coats – Sir Thomas Picton
Anya Walton – Ysgol Dewi Sant
3. Anwen Reed – Ysgol Bro Gwaun
Nia Lewis – Ysgol Dewi Sant
H.C.  Hannah Moulder – Tasker Milward
Iago Evans – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

Class 16 Grade 7 String

1. Rhys Lewis – Sir Thomas Picton
2. Rhiannon Elliott – Sir Thomas picton
3. Ioan Evans – Ysgol Bro Gwaun
Joe Likeman – Ysgol Y preseli
H.C. Nicola Hayton – Sir Thomas Picton

Class 17/18  Open Strings

1. Eleanor Hodgson – Pembrokeshire College
2. Sarah Baggs – Pembrokeshire College
3. Anna Phillips – Castle School
3. James Horton – Pembrokeshire College
3. Simone Terry – Sir Thomas Picton
HC. Vaughan Batty – Ysgol Bro Gwaun
HC. Charlie Richards – Ysgol y Preseli
HC. Hollie MacDonald – Greenhill

PIANO

Class 19 Piano Grade 4

1. Imogen Grimes – Castle School
2. Rory Staden-Coats – Sir Thomas Picton
3. William Lewis – Ysgol Dewi Sant
HC. Jazz Probert – Nant y Cwm Steiner

Class 20 Piano Grade 5

1. Chloe Edmonds – Milford Haven
2. Tobyn Foster – Pembroke
3 Iago Evans – Bro Gwaun
H.C. Nicko Ranario – Sir Thomas Picton

Class 21/22  Piano Grade 6/7

1. Geraint Pickard-Skeats – Ysgol Dewi Sant
2. Ben Richards – Tasker Milward
3. Rhys Lewis – Sir Thomas Picton
H.C. Ioan Evans – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

Class 23 Open Piano

1. Anna Phillips- Castle School
2. James Horton- Pembrokeshire College
3  .Amy Taylor-Greenhill
H.C. Simone Terry- Sir Thomas Picton

PERCUSSION

Class 26  Kit Percussion Grades 3-6

1. Ieuan Rutherford – Tasker Milward
2. Morgan Grieve – Greenhill
3. Evan Phillips – Pembroke

Class 27  Orchestral Percussion Grades 4-6

1 (Joint). Zoe Hrysycos – Sir Thomas Picton
1 (Joint). Isla Davies – Sir Thomas Picton

Class 28 Open Percussion

1. Joey Robbins – Ysgol y Preseli
2. Phil Davies – Sir Thomas Picton
3. Charlotte Harries – Pembroke

VOCAL

Class 29  Vocal Years 7-9

1. Isabel Howe – Ysgol Dewi Sant
2. Lara Whitfield – Ysgol y Preseli
3. Mabli Johnson – Ysgol y Preseli
HC. Tommy Penney – Ysgol Dewi Sant

Class 30 Vocal Classical Song Years 10-13

1. Megan Rees – Ysgol Dewi Sant
2. Cari Byrne – Ysgol y Preseli
3. Rhian Barwick – Ysgol Dewi Sant

Class 31 Vocal Class Years 7-9 Non Classical Song

1. Molly Thomas – Ysgol y Preseli
2. Rebecca Harris – Milford Haven
3. Lucy McIntosh – Milford Haven
HC. Jade Ballard – Sir Thomas Picton

Class 32 Vocal Years 10-13 Popular Music

1. Niamh MacPhail – Sir Thomas Picton
2. Leah Bower – Sir Thomas Picton
3. Erin Wilson – Ysgol Bro Gwaun
H.C. Harry Coombes Sir Thomas Picton

Class 32a Vocal Class Years 10-13 Songs from the shows

1. Joanna Thomas – Ysgol Bro Gwaun
2. Erin Byrne – Ysgol Y Preseli
3. Eleri Edwards – Sir Thomas Picton
Elen Roach – Ysgol Y Preseli
H.C. Alana Haynes – Ysgol Bro Gwaun

Class 33 Open Vocal

1. Aaron Kendall – Sir Thomas Picton
2. Yasmin Ozdemir – Tasker Milward
3. Nia James – Ysgol y Preseli
HC. Amy Barwick – Ysgol Dewi Sant

JAZZ

Class 34 Jazz Grade 3 – 5

1. Jonathan Wild – Milford Haven
2. Kara Hughes – Ysgol y Preseli
3. Thomas Carew – Milford Haven
HC. Ellen Smith – Tasker Milward VC
HC. Noah Yeates – Greenhill

Class 35 Open Jazz

1. Matthew Collins – Sir Thomas Picton
2. Georgina Pollard – Milford Haven

ENSEMBLES

Class 37 Grades 6-8 Ensemble

1.Ysgol Dewi Sant Clarinet Trio
2.Sir Thomas Picton Cello Quartet
3.Sir Thomas Picton Flute Quartet
Milford Haven Saxes
H.C. Ysgol Dewi Sant String Trio

Class 38 Open  Ensemble

1. Tasker Milward Baroque Trio
2. STP Trio
3. Ysgol Dewi Sant Brass Quintet
H.C. Milford Haven Clarinets

Class 39 Vocal Ensemble

1. STP Year 10 Vocal Trio
2. Bro Gwaun Ensemble

Class 40 Instrumental Duo

1. Nicko and Candice Ranario – Sir Thomas Picton
2. Jess Gibby + Cerys Edwards – Pembroke

Caption
INDIVIDUAL WINNERS
L-R: Aled Meredith-Barrett, Daniel Jones, Eleanor Hodgson. Anna Phillips, Joey Robbins and Matthew Collins. Missing from photograph is Aaron Kendall. (Picture courtesy of Pembrokeshire Photography)