Brass player Ffion Haf Williams was the overall winner of this year’s Secondary Schools’ Music Festival.
The annual festival, which is organised by the Pembrokeshire County Council Music Service and sponsored by Chevron, took place on Saturday (20th November) at Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest.
Over 300 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 as well as the winners of the instrumental and vocal ensemble competitions.
As well as being declared Overall winner, Ffion Haf Williams from Ysgol y Preseli won the Open Brass competition. She played the Trumpet Concerto by Arutunian.
Flautist Katie Harries of Sir Thomas Picton School was the winner of the Open Woodwind class and performed In Ireland by Hamilton Harty.
The Open Piano Class winner was Talis Spence of Greenhill School, who performed Valse Impromptu by Franz Liszt.
Emily Kaijacks of Pembroke School won the Open Vocal competition and sang Sondheim’s Send in the Clowns.
The Open String competition was won by violinist George Williams of Greenhill School, who played Hungarian dance by Rachmaninov.
Drummer Jack Beddis of Milford Haven won the Open Percussion Class and performed Fusion by Jason Wolley.
The winner of the Open Jazz competition was saxophonist Jessica Lewis of Sir Thomas Picton School, who played Yard Bird Apology by Charlie Parker.
The Open Instrumental competition was won by the Pembroke Clarinet and Piano Trio – Brendan Bunker, Lucy James and Sian Evans – while Greenhill School – Scarlett Davies, Angharad Thomas and Lauren Arthur – won the Vocal Ensemble.
The invited professional adjudicators – Timothy Angel, voice; Edward Burns, ensembles; Lauren Hamer, woodwind; Beth Linton, woodwind, Christopher Lovegrove, piano; Denis Mahoney, brass; Robin Stowell, strings, 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 Tim Bourne; Greenhill School Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Rapi; Milford Haven School Wind Band conducted by Gareth Sanders Swales; Tasker Milward School Orchestra conducted by Sarah Sharpe; Ysgol Dewi Sant School Orchestra conducted by Tom Earey; Pembroke School Concert Band conducted by Sam Hughes; Ysgol Bro Gwaun Orchestra conducted by Adrian Clifford and Ysgol Y Preseli Wind Band conducted by Gareth Sanders Swales.
County Councillor Huw George, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People presented the awards and thanked everyone for making the festival such a success.
“Once again the strength and quality of Pembrokeshire Schools’ music is evident at this event,” he said.
Jane James of Chevron said the company was extremely pleased to be involved in such a prestigious event.
