Community

Annual music festival showcases outstanding young talent

Published

4 months ago

November 26, 2025

More than 400 young musicians compete at Pembrokeshire Valero Secondary Schools’ Music Festival

MORE than 400 young musicians took centre stage at this year’s Pembrokeshire Valero Secondary Schools’ Music Festival, with pupils from all eight county secondary schools, Pembrokeshire College and invited competitors from further afield taking part.

Individual and ensemble classes ran throughout the day, with performances ranging from classical and jazz to rock, percussion, vocals and multi-instrument ensembles.

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 named overall winner of the 2025 festival. Earlier in the day he won the Open Percussion class with a performance of War Pigs by Black Sabbath.

Other major class winners included:

Open Strings – Seren Barrett, Greenhill, performing Humoresque by W.H. Squire.
Open Jazz – Iestyn Barellie, Haverfordwest High VC School, performing Amazing Grace by Victor Wooten.
Open Brass – Carys Rycroft, Ysgol Bro Gwaun, playing The Ash Grove by H. Round.
Open Piano & Harp – Lleucu-Haf Thomas, Ysgol Bro Preseli, performing Sonata No. 4 by Thomas Parry.
Open Vocals – Mia Burnett, Haverfordwest High VC School, performing Silent Noon by Vaughan Williams.
Open Woodwind – Gemma Armstrong, Ysgol Bro Preseli, performing the first movement of Poulenc’s Flute Sonata.
Open Guitar – George Penney, Milford Haven School, performing YYZ by Rush.
Open Vocal Ensemble – HHVC vocal trio Mia Burnett, Nyah McKee and Lois Capitao, with Joyful Joyful from Sister Act 2.
Open Ensemble – Triawd ffliwt Bro Preseli, performing Boismortier’s Sonata in G (movements 1 & 2).
Open Rock & Pop Band – The Monarchs, Milford Haven School, with You Give Love by Bon Jovi.

Professional adjudicators Timothy Angel, Ben Richards, Sam Baxter, Catherine Hare, Gareth Kirby, Karin Jenkins, Rhiannon Pritchard, Jenny Weir and Joel Rees praised the standard of musicianship on display.

Vocal adjudicator Timothy Angel said: “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 added: “Once again it was such a well-organised, fun event to be a part of, and the standard was so incredibly high.”

FULL RESULTS — SECONDARY VALERO 2025

(To keep this edition readable, results have been presented cleanly and in the original order.)

WOODWIND

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

Grade 3 clarinet & sax
1st – Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen
2nd – Annabelle Jones, YHT
3rd – Aurora Phillips, MHS

Grade 4 woodwind
1st – Serena Ames, Redhill
2nd – Sapphire Cook, MHS
3rd – Imogen Holloway, YPD

Grade 5 woodwind
1st – Angharad Thomas, Bro Preseli
2nd – Matthew Picton, MHS
3rd – Arlo Jones, Greenhill

Grade 6 woodwind
1st – Tom Pounder, MHS
2nd – Teri Aulehla-Atkin, HHVC

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

BRASS

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

Grade 4 Brass
1st – Luca Talbot-English, YBG
2nd – Angus Armstrong, MHS
3rd – Ioan Evans, Greenhill

Grade 5 Brass
1st – Ella-May Kirby, MHS
2nd – Eliza Wood, Greenhill & Logan Rowe-Davies, HHVC
3rd – Will Price, Greenhill
HC – Bronwen Corp, Bro Preseli

Grade 6 Brass
1st – Tristan George, HHVC
2nd – Tobias Edwards, HHVC
3rd – Harry Thomas, YPD

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

STRINGS

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

Grade 4 Strings
1st – Una McFarlane, Caer Elen
2nd – Chloe Jenkins-Simms, Bro Preseli
3rd – Benny Brett, HHVC & Nel Freeman, YHT
HC – Jakob Middlemist (HHVC), Lily Kingaby (YBG), Aaya Yunis (HHVC), Cecily Weaver (HHVC)

Grade 5 Strings
1st – Elena Gould
2nd – Isaac Frazer, Greenhill
3rd – Ruby Rapi, Bro Preseli
HC – Ella Howell (YHT), Eloise Barry (HHVC), Janelle Cabral (HHVC)

Grade 6 Strings
1st – Nina Powell

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

PIANO & HARP

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

Grade 4
1st – Dev Saini, Bro Preseli
2nd – Toby Slowgrove, HHVC
3rd – Hywel Davies, Bro Preseli & Teifi James, YBG
HC – Isla Hounsell, YHT

Grade 5
1st – Steffan James, Caer Elen
2nd – Myla Spencer, YBG
3rd – Harry Thomas, YPD
HC – Poppy Llewellin, HHVC

Grade 6
1st – Ruby Kleinjans, YBG
2nd – Elena Gould
3rd – Mischa Orford, Redhill
HC – Abbie Collinson, Greenhill

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

PERCUSSION

Drum Kit Grade 3-5
1st – Ptolemy Karenin, YBG
2nd – Griff Owens, HHVC & Dylan Mitchell, MHS
3rd – Isaac Vaughn, HHVC & Ifan Murphy, Caer Elen
HC – Haydon Straviniders, MHS

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

JAZZ

Jazz Grade 3-5
1st – Erin Dando, MHS
2nd – Matthew Picton, MHS
3rd – Felicity Bettridge, MHS

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

GUITAR

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

VOCALS

Musical Theatre & Classical (Years 7-9)
1st – Benny Brett, HHVC & Pixie Coast, HHVC
2nd – Alisha Panesar, HHVC & Erin Tilling, HHVC
3rd – Toby Armstrong, Bro Preseli
HC – Charlotte Riley, Caer Elen & Tilly Prevel, YHT

Pop Vocals (Years 7-9)
1st – Nancy Bhari, YHT
2nd – Annabelle Evans, YPD
3rd – Frazer Johnston, HHVC
HC – Lilla Gibbs, YHT & Holly Bowler, YPD

Musical Theatre & Classical (Years 10-13)
1st – Connie Lewis, YHT
2nd – Hollie Draper, YPD
3rd – Lois Capitao, HHVC
HC – Maisie Davey (YHT), Ozzy Evans (HHVC)

Pop Vocals (Years 10-13)
1st – Charlotte Bentley, HHVC
2nd – Izzy Roberts, MHS
3rd – Martha Bhari, YHT
HC – Sophia Jones (YHT), Owen Gibby (MHS)

Open Vocals
1st – Mia Burnett, HHVC
2nd – Millie Evans-Thomas, Greenhill
3rd – 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
1st – Ysgol Caer Elen String Trio
2nd – Violin, cello & piano trio (Elena & Roberta – YPD, Eva – Redhill)
3rd – YHT Woodwind Ensemble

Open Instrumental Ensemble
1st – Triawd ffliwt, Ysgol Bro Preseli
2nd – Deuawd Telyn a Ffidl, Ysgol Bro Preseli
3rd – HHVC Cello Quartet

Open Vocal Ensemble
1st – HHVC Vocal Trio – Joyful Joyful
2nd – YHT Vocal Duet
3rd – HHVC Vocal Duet

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

Pictured: Individual winners (Photo 1) and ensemble winners.

Community

Davies and Kurtz urge groups to seek employability funding

Published

3 hours ago

March 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Community organisations in Pembrokeshire encouraged to apply for new grants supporting skills and job access

LOCAL Senedd Members Samuel Kurtz and Paul Davies are urging charities and community groups across Pembrokeshire to apply for a new round of funding aimed at helping people gain skills and access employment.

The latest round of the National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) Community Matters Fund has opened, offering grants to grassroots organisations supporting people who are struggling to find work or return to employment.

Delivered in partnership with Localgiving, the spring funding round will distribute £250,000 to projects designed to build skills, confidence and experience in an evolving jobs market.

Funding can support initiatives such as CV workshops, interview coaching, work placements and training opportunities. Projects helping people develop practical skills in sectors including construction, engineering, digital industries and clean energy are also eligible.

The fund is targeted at those facing barriers to employment, including young people not in education, employment or training, individuals with health conditions or disabilities, armed forces veterans, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and those returning to work after time away due to caring responsibilities or illness.

Registered charities and non-profit companies limited by guarantee can apply for grants of up to £5,000. Constituted community groups without a charity number can apply for up to £2,000.

The funding is available to eligible organisations across the Midlands, South West England and South Wales.

Samuel Kurtz said: “This fund offers a valuable opportunity for local groups to secure support to help people gain confidence, training and work experience. I would encourage any eligible organisation in Pembrokeshire to consider applying.”

Paul Davies added: “Helping people into work and supporting them to develop new skills is vital for both individuals and our local economy. Pembrokeshire has many excellent community groups delivering this kind of support, and I hope they will take full advantage of this funding to expand their work.”

The application window opened on Monday (Mar 16) and closes at 5:00pm on Thursday (Apr 23). Successful applicants will be notified in May, with funding distributed later that month.

Further information is available via the National Grid Electricity Distribution Community Matters Fund website.

Community

Campaign raises £4,000 in first week to save historic Boncath meeting cottage

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Community investors urged to help reach £12,000 target before end of March

A COMMUNITY campaign to purchase and preserve a historic Victorian corrugated cottage in Boncath has already raised £4,000 in just one week.

The fundraising effort began following a public meeting in the north Pembrokeshire village, where residents discussed plans to secure the future of the building, which has served as a community meeting space for more than 130 years.

***Villagers promote the campaign to purchase Boncath’s historic corrugated cottage meeting room (Pic supplied)***

The corrugated iron cottage has had several uses over the decades. Since the 1930s it has been used as a meeting place for Boncath Women’s Institute, while earlier records suggest it served as an office for a local sawmill. Some residents also believe the building was originally owned by a nearby mansion estate and used as a rent collection office.

At the public meeting in Boncath Village Hall, Cris Tomos from the Narberth-based community development association PLANED outlined how the purchase could be achieved through community investment.

Mr Tomos said the group had set a target of raising £12,000 by March 31, 2026. The total would cover the £10,000 purchase price of the building along with approximately £2,000 in legal and marketing costs.

He told residents that investors could benefit from tax relief through the HMRC Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, which allows eligible UK taxpayers to reclaim 50 per cent of their investment.

Mr Tomos said: “Following the public meeting in the village hall it was agreed to set a target date of March 31 to reach the goal of raising £12,000 to buy the building. This includes the £10,000 purchase price plus £2,000 for legal and marketing costs.

“It is great to report that after just one week we have seen £4,000 raised, which is one third of the target. We now have a limited time to raise the remaining £8,000 by the end of March.”

Supporters are being asked to consider investing £500 in the project. Those who are UK taxpayers would be eligible for the 50 per cent tax relief.

Organisers say the model has already proven successful locally. The nearby community purchase of the Crymych Arms pub, just four miles away, raised £210,000 from investors to reopen the village pub.

Anyone interested in supporting the Boncath project can email [email protected] or download an investment form from the Bwthyn Boncath Facebook page.

Printed forms are also available from Boncath Village Shop and Post Office and can be returned there to be counted towards the community investment total.

If the purchase is successful, organisers say a further community share offer is planned at £50 per share to allow as many residents as possible to take an ownership stake in the historic building.

Community

Park backs community projects with sustainability funding

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Five community initiatives receive support through Sustainable Development Fund

FIVE community-led projects across Pembrokeshire have secured funding from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) following a competitive round of the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF).

The authority’s Grants Committee met in late January to consider fifteen applications from across the county. Members said the quality of submissions was exceptionally high, making the selection process particularly challenging.

Projects were assessed on how well they supported the aims of the SDF, which promotes sustainable development, community resilience and environmental improvement within the National Park.

The five successful applicants were:

Transition Bro Gwaun
Yr Hen Ysgol, Dinas
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (Skokholm Island)
Angle Village Hall
St Davids City Council

The successful bids include plans to install renewable energy systems in community buildings and carry out energy-efficiency retrofit improvements to local hubs used by residents.

Bethan Jones, Sustainability Officer at the Park Authority said: “It was encouraging to see such ambitious ideas emerging from our local communities. These projects offer innovative solutions that will deliver a lasting, positive impact across communities in the National Park.”

Work on the funded projects has already begun following confirmation of the grants.

Details of the next round of Sustainable Development Fund funding will be announced once future budgets have been confirmed. Updates will be shared through Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) and other local community networks.

Further information about the Sustainable Development Fund is available at www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/sdf.

Caption:

Yr Hen Ysgol Dinas Community Centre has benefited from the latest round of funding from the Sustainable Development Fund. (Pic: PCNPA)