The 24th annual Texaco Primary School's Instrumental Music Festival was held at Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest on Saturday.

Over 600 young musicians participated in this year's festival, which was organised by the Pembrokeshire County Council's Music Service and sponsored by Texaco.

During the morning, individual performers and ensemble groups participated in competitions for various categories.

The professional adjudicators who gave their valuable advice to the young performers were: Peter Morgan (woodwind); Mark Eager (brass); Annette Morgan (strings); Christopher Lovegrove (piano); Andy Cookson (percussion); Heidi Davies (ensembles).

These competitions provided the young musicians with a valuable experience of performing to a friendly audience of parents and friends.

At the afternoon concert, the area orchestras and bands performed to a capacity audience. The programme was presented by Pembrokeshire County Council's music co-ordinator, Chris Llewellyn.

The area groups who performed were: Pembroke Junior Schools' Orchestra (conductor: Rebecca Whitehurst); Tenby Area Junior Schools' Orchestra (Richard Tiller); Cerddorfa Bro Waldo (John and Iris Thirkettle); Tenby Area Junior Wind Ensemble (Judy Pyart); Haverfordwest Area Orchestra (Kyle Patterson); St. Davids Area Orchestra (Hilary Lewis); Milford Haven Junior Schools Big Band (Sonja Groves); Bro Jemima Orchestra (Emma Thompson).

During the afternoon concert, the winners of the open competitions performed. They were:

• Open Strings - Chelsea Harries, Saundersfoot School

• Open Brass - Corey Morris, Tenby Junior School

• Open Woodwind - Chloe Dobbs, Saundersfoot School

• Open Piano - Sam Baxter, Tenby Junior School

• Open Percussion - Jack Beddis, Milford Haven Junior School.

Also playing in the concert were the winners of the classical and modern ensemble competitions - the Saundersfoot School String Trio and Milford Haven Junior School Soul Band, respectively, who were enthusiastically received by the audience.

On behalf of the adjudicators, Christopher Lovegrove, announced that the overall winner of this year's festival was Chloe Dobbs, of Saundersfoot CP School.

Phil Thompson presented the prizes on behalf of Texaco, Pembroke Plant.

Said Chris Llewellyn: "The numbers of pupils who participated in this year's event and the high standards of performance clearly demonstrate the strength of music in the county's schools and why Pembrokeshire continues to be one of the leading musical counties in Wales."

Results

Flute, Oboe and Bassoon, Grade 2: 1, Millie Thomas, Glan Gleddau School; 2, Hannah Taylor, Milford Haven Juniors; 3, Archie Smith, Coastlands. Highly commended: Sophie Griffiths, Milford Haven Juniors.

Flute, Oboe and Bassoon, Grade 3: 1, Angharad Thomas, Saundersfoot; joint 2: Gwennan Williams, Ger-y-Llan, Myfanwy Price, Roch and Alex Lucas, Spittal; joint 3, Scarlett Davies, Tenby Juniors, Claudia Belli, St Teilos and Lily Davies, Ysgol Glan Gleddau. Highly commended: Zoe Bevans, Wolfcastle.

Clarinet, Grade 2: 1, Sophie James, St. Teilos; joint 2, Katy Buxton, Prendergast and Daniel Collings, Tenby Juniors; 3, James Aidie, Stackpole and Isobel Hughs, Roch. Highly commended: Ceridwen Price, Roch.

Sax, Grade 2: 1, Guto Harries, Maenclochog; 2, Richard Phillips, Croesgoch; 3, Samuel Withers, Burton.

Clarinet and Sax, Grade 3: joint 1, Louis Brecon, Roch, Richard Phillips, Tavernspite and Joe Worley, St. Florence; joint 2, Todd Watson, Fenton, Oliver King, Milford Haven Juniors and Catrin James, Wolfcastle; 3, Phoebe Stanley, Templeton, Gabrielle Swales, Milford Haven Juniors. Highly commended: Nicola Paterson, Prendergast, Harry Whitehurt and David Marlem.

Open Woodwind. Grade 4+: 1, Chloe Dobbs, Saundersfoot; joint 2, Dominic Ciccotti, Tenby Juniors and Joel Bowie-Hollam, Milford Haven Juniors; joint 3, Max Copley, St. Oswalds, Lauren Arthur, Sageston and Megan Withers, Burton. Highly commended: Bryony Dixon, Solva, Rachel Hensman, Saundersfoot and Danielle McKelvie, Pennar.

Brass, Grade 2: 1, Joshua Hunt, St. Oswalds; 2, Hugh Mason, Stackpole; 3, Cara Watson, Fenton. Brass, Grade 3: 1, Rhys Tyrrell, Glannau Gwaun; 2, Kieron Walkenden, Hook; 3, Jack Griffiths, Glannau Gwaun. Highly commended: Ellen Davies, Croesgoch.

Open Brass, Grade 4+: 1, Corey Morris, Tenby Juniors; 2, Aaron Lewis, Fenton; 3, Matthew Ashton-Smith, Milford Haven Juniors. Highly commended: Danielle Tose, Eglwyswrw. Violin and Viola, Grade 2: 1, Jessica Miller, Stackpole; 2, Madi Phillips, Spittal; 3, Lucy James, Stackpole.

Strings, Grade 3: 1, Alistair Davies, Goodwick; 2, Luke Jenkins, Bro Dewi; 3, Annie Latham, Prendergast. Highly commended: Kate Marsden, Hannah Thomas and Emma Morgan, all Tavernspite, Catrin Raymond, Mathry, Luke Jenkins, Bro Dewi, Alex Roberts, Haverfordwest VC, Angharad James, Goodwick, Annie Latham, Prendergast, Llyr Gordon, Narberth and Sophie Hemmings, Bro Dewi.

Strings, Grade 4: 1, Marged Rees, Eglwswrw; 2, Ania Chichlowska, Spittal.

Cello, Guitar + Harp, Grade 2: 1, Hannah Jones, Spittal; 2, Ella Stadencoats, Spittal; 3, Edward Hurle, Saundersfoot. Highly commended: Ellie Wainwright, Saundersfoot.

Open Strings, Grade 5+: 1, Chelsea Harries, Saundersfoot; 2, Oliver Irving, Ysgol Glan Cleddau; 3, Elliot Ronowitz, Tenby Juniors. Highly commended: Hannah Gray, Saundersfoot; Katie MacLeod, Nant-Y-Cwm.

Piano, Grade 2: 1, Amy Leahy, Holy Name; 2, Tom Noon, Bro Dewi; 3, Joseph Couceiro, Redhill Prep. Highly commended: Dominic Ciccotti, Tenby Juniors.

Piano, Grade 3: 1, Caryl Lewis, Maenclochog; 2, Maddie Robbins, Maenclochog; 3, Lucy James, Stackpole.

Open Piano: 1, Sam Baxter, Tenby Juniors; joint 2, Lily Whitehurst, Saundersfoot and Blythe McGechan Davies, Maenclochog; joint 3, Katie Macleod, Nant- y-Cwm and Richard Simon, Stackpole.

Keyboard: 1, Matthew McCoy, Fenton; 2, Daniella Rodrigues, Mary Immaculate; joint 3, Ethan Turner Freeman, Spittal and Emily Silvester, Glan Cleddau. Percussion: 1, Jack Beddis, Milford Haven Juniors; 2, Elliot Bowen, Narberth; 3, Sean Gershwin, Broad Haven. Highly commended: Joe Worley, St. Florence, Harry Whitehurst, Saundersfoot, David Markham, Manorbier.

Recorder Group: 1, Ysgol Bro Dewi; 2, Spittal; 3, Broad Haven Classical Ensemble: 1, Saundersfoot String Trio; 2, Milford Haven Junior School Flute Trio; 3, Milford Haven Junior School Brass Quartet. Highly commended: Roch Clarinet Trio and Bro Dewi Brass Trio.

Modern Ensemble: 1, Milford Haven Junior School Soul Band; 2, Saundersfoot Clarinet Trio; 3, Fenton Brass Quartet.