Community

Annual music festival showcases outstanding young talent

Published

2 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

Tenby sailing club works approved by national park

Published

5 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for works at Tenby’s historic sailing club building, part of the ‘iconic view’ of the town’s harbour have been given the go-ahead by the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Tenby Sailing Club, through agent David J P Morgan RIBA Architect sought permission for the two openings in second floor gable wall along with two new windows at Tenby Sailing Club, Penniless Cove Hill, along with a related listed building consent.

The application was supported by Tenby Town Council and Tenby Civic Society, the latter saying it will “add value to the use of the building and maintain the character and value of the listed building and the conservation area”.

Supporting documents for the application said: “The proposal is to form two new openings in the stonework and install two windows. These will replicate the existing windows at first floor level below. The openings will have red brick head as on existing original openings on the building. The proposal will have very little adverse impact on the listed building.”

They added: “The proposed new windows will improve observation of the harbour and bay from the second-floor level. This is where yacht racing is monitored and observed by officials and safety personnel.”

An officer report, recommending approval said: “The sailing club was built as a warehouse c. 1825, abutting the C17 sluice. Originally wine stores, it was later used by the local fishermen for stores and is now the home to Tenby Sailing Club, established in 1936. The rubble-built building is of three storeys and four bays, the glazing all later C20 with a slated roof and a modernised interior. There is a large steel stair to north (seaward) elevation.”

It added: “The building forms part of a group picturesquely clustered around the sluice, in turn forming part of the iconic view of Tenby Harbour. The proposal is to insert two windows at second floor level to the north (seaward) elevation, flanking the existing door,” adding: “The area retains its mercantile character not just in appearance, but also through its character due to ongoing use as fishing boat stores and winter moorings.

“The sailing club has occupied the building for many years and remains very active. The proposal is intended to improve the amenity of the building to provide better viewing at elevation and seeks to copy the detail and proportions of the windows at first floor stage.”

The application, and the related listed building consent, was conditionally approved by park planners.

Community

Pembrokeshire students speak at national Holocaust Memorial Day event

Published

11 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

TWO Haverfordwest High School pupils addressed senior political and religious figures and a Holocaust survivor at Wales’ main commemoration in Cardiff

Holocaust Memorial Day was marked in Cardiff this week with a powerful contribution from two Pembrokeshire students, who were invited to speak at Wales’ national commemoration event.

Awel Jones and Olivia Beal, both Year 13 pupils at Haverfordwest High School, attended the ceremony at the Temple of Peace on Monday (Jan 27) in their roles as ambassadors for the Holocaust Educational Trust.

The pair were asked to deliver speeches reflecting on their work with the Trust and their involvement in the “Lessons from Auschwitz” project, which educates young people about the Holocaust and the dangers of prejudice, discrimination and hatred.

They spoke in front of a distinguished audience that included the First Minister for Wales, Eluned Morgan, the Archbishop of Wales, senior civic leaders and Holocaust survivor Peter Lantos.

The national event formed part of Holocaust Memorial Day 2026, which was held under the theme “bridging generations”, highlighting the responsibility of younger generations to carry forward the lessons of the past as the number of living survivors declines.

Awel Jones and Olivia Beal were the only young Holocaust Educational Trust ambassadors representing Wales at the national ceremony, a distinction described as a significant honour for both the students and Pembrokeshire.

A parent said the occasion was “profoundly emotive and important”, adding that being invited to speak at such a high-profile event was an accolade for the students and a reflection of the strength of Holocaust education work taking place locally.

Holocaust Memorial Day is observed annually on January 27, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.

Business

Final wind turbine deliveries completed after months of disruption

Published

11 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Last major component reaches site as Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thank communities for patience

DRAGON LNG and Dragon Energy have confirmed that the final large component for a new wind turbine project has now been successfully delivered, bringing months of complex abnormal load movements on Pembrokeshire roads to an end.

The companies said the final turbine blade was delivered to the site on Wednesday (Jan 28, 2026), marking the completion of all major component deliveries associated with the project.

In a statement, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thanked the local community for its patience and cooperation throughout the delivery programme, acknowledging that the operation caused disruption on local roads.

Residents across parts of the county have previously experienced temporary road closures, traffic delays and police escorts as oversized turbine components were transported from the Port of Milford Haven to the site under tightly controlled conditions.

The abnormal load movements required months of detailed planning and coordination, involving route surveys, traffic management, police support and liaison with local authorities to ensure deliveries were carried out safely and with minimal disruption wherever possible.

The companies also apologised for the inconvenience caused during the delivery phase, saying the support and understanding shown by residents had been “invaluable” in allowing the project to reach this milestone.

A number of organisations were involved in supporting the operation, including Pembrokeshire County Council, Dyfed-Powys Police, haulage specialists Collett & Sons Ltd and Green Light Traffic Management.

Local media outlets, including The Pembrokeshire Herald, provided advance notice and updates during the delivery process to help keep residents informed.

With the final major deliveries now complete, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy said the project would continue to progress to the next phase of construction on site.