Edmund Hartzell from Saundersfoot has been chosen as one of the five finalists in the prestigious Texaco Young Musician of Wales 2005 competition. For his winning performance at the Carmarthen regional final, the talented 17-year-old double bass player performed two pieces of music, including VII Motivy by Emil Tabaker. He will now perform in the final at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff in April. Edmund's love of music started at the young age of four when he started playing the double bass. He is now a music scholar at Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey. Ecstatic Edmund said: "I'm overwhelmed. This is the first time that I have entered the Texaco competition and I can hardly believe I've got this far. "This is a fantastic opportunity for me and will help develop my performing experience. I am going to work hard to do my best on the evening, but at the same time I will make sure that I enjoy the experience. It is the taking part that is more important than the winning and I‚m really looking forward to playing with the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, which will be a new experience for me. "My ambition is to be a soloist, orchestral player or to teach, and reaching the final will be a stepping stone to my musical career in the future." The competition winner will receive £1,000 and the Texaco Young Musician of Wales trophy. Second and third placed finalists will receive £750 and £500 respectively, and the two other finalists £250 each. Provided they are in Wales, the music departments at each of the finalists' schools will also receive a donation equal to that won by the individual. Ken Crowle, of Côr Meibion De Cymru, added: "The competition has been brilliant so far and I'm very impressed with the standard. To me, this has been the best since we started the competition in 1989. There are no pianists in the final, but there is a good selection of other instruments which will make an exciting final. "The chosen finalists will have an opportunity to perform on stage in front of an audience and part of their prize will be to play with The Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra. The evening should be a valuable experience for them and hopefully one that they will thoroughly enjoy. I wish all five musicians the best of luck." All the finalists are now deciding on their programmes for the final.
