Wednesday, June 25, saw another in the series of 'St. Mary's (Tenby) Festival of Youth' concerts.
The focus on the younger musicians and choristers, saw choirs and soloists give an appreciative audience an hour of evocative and at times brilliant music.
Starting with the Tenby VC Infants School choir who sang 'My shepherd and my friend' followed by a robust rendering of 'Chitty chitty bang bang' (with steering wheel and horn), conducted and encouraged by director Rebecca Evans, the evening started on a high note.
Tenby Junior School's string trio then performed Prosper Morand's 'Trepak', which ended with a well controlled accelerando and much applause.
Director Margaret Blackledge then led St. Teilo's School choir in 'The Joy of Music' and 'Isn't it nice to harmonise'. Hopefully we will hear more from them in the future.
The string trio then returned to play individual items. Natalie Hunt played the contrasting movements of Telemann's 'Adagio and Allegro' for violin. This was followed by Hannah Lowe's performance of the 'Hungarian Dance' by Nolck, also on the violin. Tchaikovsky's 'Chanson Triste' was performed as a cello solo by Laura Elliott.
All three string pieces set by the Associated Board of Examiners as grade five to seven, gives an idea of the talent of these young musicians.
The fourth Tenby Guides, led by Jan Evans and Catherine Dodd, sang 'Sing a round for peace' and 'Thank you my friend'. It was good to hear yet another group of choristers from the area.
A trumpet solo performed by William Edwards brought the 'Ground Force' theme to the audience who showed their horticultural leanings by a big round of applause for a very competent young brass player.
The last solo spot of the evening was taken by Matthew Birch from Greenhill School, who with Dr. John Harrison at the piano, played De Falla's 'Dance Espagnol', a virtuoso piece more often known as a diploma work. This really took off, with the rapport between Matthew and his accompanist holding the technical fireworks well in hand until the piece ended in a cascade of double stopping and harmonies.
Well established Tenby Junior School choir ended the concert, with headmistress Jan Llewellyn conducting 'The Lord's My Shepherd' and 'Go the distance', with Miranda Davies at the piano. As always, this choir proved its popularity with the audience.
As honorary president of the Tenby Area Schools Orchestral Society, Dr. John Harrison then presented the society's shields for musical excellence in string playing.
Matthew Birch received the 'James Lawford Davies' shield for senior strings, Natalie Hunt and Hannah Lowe jointly received the Sister Cecilia shield for junior string playing and the Vicar Williams shield for ensemble playing was won by the Tenby Junior School string trio.
The evening ended with a vote of thanks and a prayer by the Rev. Mark Soady.
The closing congregational hymn was 'All things bright and beautiful'.