Just one year after taking up the baton to lead Pembrokeshire’s Phoenix Brass Band into competitive action, 27-year-old Luke Jenkins from Goodwick has been named Welsh brass band conductor of the year.

Luke and the Phoenix band were pipped for first place by Cwmtawe in the Welsh League contest at Merthyr on Saturday, but such has been their impact in competition in the past 12 months that Luke has been awarded this prestigious title. He follows in the footsteps of brother Matthew, Goodwick Brass Band’s musical director, who gained the same title in 2012 and 2014.

“This has been an amazing year,” said Luke as he celebrated a hard day’s work on Saturday. “We have brought together an amazing group of players of all ages, keen to have a go at competition, and they have exceeded our wildest dreams.”

A dawn start for the journey to Merthyr was followed by another brilliant performance by Phoenix and then, later in the day, Luke played principal cornet as usual for Goodwick Brass Band in the Championship section.

More awards came in the shape of Best Instrumentalist for Matthew Jenkins and youngest Fourth Section player Sam Howell.

Being pipped by Cwmtawe leaves Phoenix waiting to hear if they have done enough this year to gain promotion to the Third Section.

Meanwhile, Goodwick themselves produced arguably their best performance to date, taking on some of Wales’ finest in the hugely challenging piece, Paganini Variations by Philip Wilby. But, on this occasion, Goodwick missed out on a podium place, with Tylorstown and Markham producing stunning performances to beat the highly experienced Tongwynlais Temperance into third place.

Adjudicator Derek Broadbent praised all the bands for their high standard saying: “In this area, you are blessed with one of the finest brass bands we have ever had (Cory), but hearing you all today it is clear you have many more good bands and the future of brass banding is in very safe hands.”

Goodwick’s achievement in competing at this, the highest level in brass banding, is underlined by the fact that no fewer than nine members of their band are teenagers and a further 10, including conductor Matthew Jenkins, are in their 20s, a stark contrast to the age and experience of their rivals.

To prove the statistics, Goodwick’s Dan Roche (16) picked up the Trevada Music award as youngest player in the Championship contest.

Goodwick Brass Band link up with world’s No.1 ranked Cory Band for a spectacular concert at St. David’s Cathedral on Saturday, December 3. For details and tickets, call 01348 874228 or 01348 872967.