A teenage virtuoso from Saundersfoot is to perform with the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, after being shortlisted for the prestigious Texaco Young Musician of Wales 2005 competition. Edmund Hartzell, aged 17, has been chosen as one of the five finalists after winning the Carmarthen regional final recently. The double bass player, who attends the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, will now perform in the final at Cardiff's Sherman Theatre in April. Edmund, who began playing at the age of four, 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. 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."
