The Annual Secondary Schools' Instrumental Festival, organised by Pembrokeshire County Council's music service and sponsored by Texaco, took place on Saturday at Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest.

Over 450 young musicians from the eight county secondary schools participated in the individual and ensemble competitions which took place during the morning and afternoon sessions.

The invited professional adjudicators were: James Walker (strings and ensembles); Malcolm Bennett (woodwind); Georgina Davies (woodwind and piano); David Powell (percussion and modern ensembles); Dennis Mahoney (brass); Carole Oakes (strings); Robert Codd (woodwind) and Alan Bourne (brass and keyboards).

Again this year the adjudicators were greatly impressed with the high standards and strength of schools' music in the county.

At the evening concert, an enthusiastic audience enjoyed a feast of music.

The master of ceremonies was Mr. Chris Llewellyn, the county music co-ordinator. On behalf of the festival sponsors, Texaco, Mr. Phil Thompson expressed how pleased the company were to be able involved in this prestigious event featuring so many talented young musicians.

Performances were given by: Cerddorfa Ysgol y Preseli (conducted by Philippa Roberts); Sir Thomas Picton School Orchestra (Tim Bourne); Ysgol Greenhill School Orchestra (Paul Rapi); Milford Haven School Jazz Ensemble (Sarah Lloyd); Tasker Milward School Orchestra (Tim Bourne); Ysgol Dewi Sant School Orchestra (Tom Earey); Pembroke School Concert Band (Sarah Richards); Cerddorfa Ysgol Bro Gwaun (John Jones).

Over 400 musicians played in their respective school ensembles with the styles ranging from classical music to contemporary popular songs, jazz and film music.

Solo performances were given by the winners of the open competitions which had taken place earlier in the day:

Winner of the open brass was Matthew Jenkins from Ysgol Bro Gwaun, who played 'Variations on The Ash Grove' on the euphonium, accompanied by Susan Meredith Jones.

Nia Bell from Ysgol Preseli was this years winner of the open woodwind class. She performed 'Concertino' by Weber on the clarinet, accompanied by Simeon Morris.

The open string competition winner was violinist Matthew Birch from Greenhill School who played Kreisler's 'Spanish Dance', accompanied by John Thirkettle.

This year, there were joint winners of the open percussion Class. Shan McGarty from Ysgol Dewi Sant performed her own improvised solo on the drum kit and Steffan Ciccotti from Greenhill School played 'Monograph 4' on the marimba.

Pianist, Gwawr Ifan from Ysgol Preseli was the winner of the open piano class who performed 'Rondo Capriccioso' by Mendelssohn.

Also performing were the winners of the open classical and modern ensembles.

Milford Haven Brass Sextet and Suburban Soul from Pembroke performed in complete contrasting styles.

Sara Avent Cup was awarded to Roxanne Giggins of Tasker Milward School for being the most promising cellist at the festival.

On behalf of the adjudicators, Georgina Davies congratulated everyone who had participated and helped to make the day such an outstanding success and announced that percussionist Steffan Ciccotti was the overall winner of this year's festival.

Once again the strength and quality of Pembrokeshire Schools' music was evident at this event.

The young musicians of the county's secondary schools are grateful to Texaco for their sponsorship of this festival

The results of the classes held during the day were as follows:

WOODWIND

Class 1a flute and oboe, grade 4: 1. (joint) Lucy Morris, Greenhill and Jessica Griffiths, Milford; 2. Heledd Gwynn, Preseli; 3. Catherine Hancock, Milford; HC Rebecca James, STP.

Class 1b clarinet and sax, grade 4: 1. Ceri Watson, STP; 2. (joint) Megan David, Greenhill and Rhiannon Painter, Taskers; 3. (joint) Jemma Owen-Russant, Pembroke and Ann Macleod, Nant-Y-Cwm Steiner; HC Alice Brown, Milford.

Class 2a flute and oboe, grade 5: 1. Loren Hine, Milford; 2. (joint) Rebecca Hall, Greenhill and Elen Griffiths, Preseli; 3. Luci Jowett, Dewi Sant; HC (joint) Sarah Atherton, STP, Kayleigh Owen-Russant, Pembroke, Caris Headland, STP and Nicola Wood, STP.

Class 2b clarinet and sax, grade 5: 1. Rachel Hobbs, Greenhill; 2. Sandra Evens, Taskers; 3. Martyn Hart, Milford; HC Sophie John, Greenhill.

Class 3a flute and oboe, grade 6: 1. Rebecca Griffiths, Milford; 2. Naomi Mayne, Milford; 3. Rebecca Hills, Greenhill; HC (joint) Philippa Cole, Pembroke, Eleri Jones, Tasker Milward and Sebastian Buchert.

Class 3b clarinet and sax, grade 6: 1. Emily Rastall, STP; 2. Matthew McMann, Netherwood; 3. Angharad Jones, Tasker Milward; HC Louis Mullane, Milford.

Class 4 grade 7 woodwind: 1. Sam Davies, Greenhill; 2. Elinor Williams, Preseli; 3. Katy Dennison, Milford; HC Ross Bullimore, Milford and Llinos Jones, Tasker Milward.

Class 5 open woodwind: 1. Nia Bell, Preseli; 2. Laura Court, Greenhill; 3. (joint) Lee Motteram, Greenhill and Simon Llewellyn, Milford; HC (joint) Bethan James, Preseli, Joanne Maguire, STP, Alex Ross, Milford and Katie Groves, Milford.

BRASS

Class 6 grade 4 brass: 1. Jake Watson, Tasker Milward; 2. Mitchell Clark, Tasker Milward; 3. Gemma Green-Hope, Preseli; HC (joint) Gareth Jones, STP and Thomas Richards, STP.

Class 7 grade 5 brass: 1. Amy Phillips, Bro Gwaun; 2. Rebecca Paratt, Tasker Milward; 3. Christopher Morgan, Greenhill HC (joint) Callum Clark, Tasker Milward and Gareth Butland, Pembroke.

Class 8 grade 6 brass: 1. Hywel Davies, Bro Gwaun; 2. Sam Palmer, Pembroke; 3. Charlotte East, Milford; HC Daniel Harries, STP.

Class 9 grade 7 brass: 1. Daniel Macken, Pembroke; 2. Ben Phllips, Dewi Sant; 3. Charlotte Phillips, Milford; HC William Edwards, Greenhill.

Class 10 open brass: 1. Matthew Jenkins, Bro Gwaun; 2. Rhiannon Griffiths, Bro Gwaun; 3. Stuart East, Milford; HC Matthew Birch, Greenhill.

STRINGS

Class 11, grade 4: 1. Siwan Griffiths, Preseli; 2. Stephanie Phillips, Dewi Sant; 3. Aaron Srefford, STP.

Class 12, grade 5: 1. Jake Fear, Dewi Sant; 2. Vaughan Davies, Bro Gwaun; 3. Gemma Williams, Dewi Sant; HC (joint) Gemma Thomas, Greenhill and Georgina Stallow, Milford and Freya Edwards, Bro Gwaun.

Class 13, grade 6: 1. Robbie Godwin, Greenhill; 2. Emma Clarke, Bro Gwaun; 3. Rhys Hodgson, Greenhill.

Class 14, grade 7: 1. Kayleigh Owen-Russant, Pembroke; 2. Sylvie Roscoe, STP.

Class 15, grade 8: 1. Lucy Evans, Pembroke; 2. Anna Grace, Preseli; 3. Rebecca Meyrick, Preseli.

Class 16 open strings: 1. Matthew Birch, Greenhill; 2. (joint) Samuel Orr, Tasker Milward and Roxanne Giggens.

PIANO

Class17/18, grades 4 and 5: 1. (joint) Rebecca Poesh, Ysgol Dewi Sant and Anne Mcleod, Nant-Y-Cwm Steiner; 2. Bethan Howell, Preseli; 3. Hannah Lowe, Greenhill; HC (joint) Vicky Sainter, Milford Haven and Angharad Allsop, Preseli.

Class19/20, grades 6 + 7: 1. Benjamin Phillips, Dewi Sant; 2. Thea Woodrow, Dewi Sant; 3. Carys Bromby, Greenhill; HC (joint) Lucy Bowen, Milford Haven and Sam Davies, Greenhill.

Class21 open piano: 1. Gwaur Ifan, Preseli; 2. Ruth Llewhelin, Bro Gwaun; 3. Sarah Spankie, Greenhill; HC Gareth Morgan, Netherwood.

PERCUSSION

Class 22 kit percussion: 1. Shan McGarty, Ysgol Dewi Sant; 2. Richard Lewis, Milford Haven; 3. James Iles, STP; HC Philip Howles, Pembroke.

Class 23 open orchestral percussion: 1. Steffan Ciccotti, Greenhill; 2. Emily Lewis, Greenhill; 3. (joint) Christian Richardson, STP and Carys Bromby, Greenhill.

VOCALS

Class 24 vocal songs: 1. (joint) Donato Todaro, Milford and Georgina Stalbow, Milford; 2. Clara Waygood, STP; 3. Astrid Bowen, Netherwood; HC Jenny Clubbe, STP.

Class 25 non-classical songs: 1. (joint) Katrina Edwards, Pembroke, Elaina Hoss, Tasker Milward and Lillie Flynn, Dewi Sant; 2. Sophie Howard-Cooke, Pembroke; 3. Jane Thomas, STP; HC Lowri Davies, Preseli.

ENSEMBLES

Class 26 classical ensemble, grade 5 and below: 1. Milford Year 8 Trumpet Quartet; 2. Tasker Milward Brass Quartet 3. Sir Thomas Picton Trumpet Trio; HC Milford Saxes.

Class 27 classical wind ensemble, grade 8: 1. Ritic Quartet, Greenhill; 2. (joint) Tenacious Three, Three "Joe's" and an "l", Greenhill and STP String Quartet; 3. Tasker Milward Flute Trio; HC (joint) Greenhill Flute Trio and STP Trumpet Trio.

Class 28 open classical ensemble: 1. Milford Brass Consort, Milford; 2. Bro Gwaun Brass Quartet, Bro Gwaun; 3. STP String Trio, STP; HC (joint) Pembroke Saxophone Quartet, Pembroke and Pembroke Brass Ensemble, Pembroke.

Class 29 open modern ensembles: 1. Suburban Soul, Pembroke; 2. Saxtet, Milford; 3. Doris and the Dreamboat, Greenhill; HC Natural Instinct, STP.

DUETS

Class 30/31 instrumentaand& Katy Dennison, Milford 2. Jenny Clubbe, STP and Jo Jo Freeman, Dewi Sant; 3. The Kurly Mop Krew, Milford; HC Jessica Cole and Jessica Condon, STP.

Class 31 percussion duet: 1. Ashley Williams and Carl Rees STP.

ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD

Class 32 electronic keyboard, grade 4: 1. Emma Moore, STP; 2. Amy Davies, STP; 3. Astrid Bowen, Netherwood.

Class 33 electronic keyboard, grade 5: 1. Nia Davies, Tasker Milward; 2. Alex Ross, Milford; 3. Sarah Atherton, STP; HC Alice Tucker, STP.