AN audience of 50 at Bethesda Chapel in Narberth enjoyed an evening of excellent music by participants in the South West Wales Finals of the Rotary Young Musician of the Year 2024/5 competition.

Judges Norma Ridout and Mark Heron, were impressed and declared the winners Alaw Elisa (Harp) and Max Morris (Vocal), both representing Ysgol Bro Preseli and Narberth & Whitland Rotary in the competition’s second round on Wednesday, January 22.

Rotary Young Musician of the Year 2024/5 South West Wales Area Winner in the vocal competition was Max Morris
Area Winner in the vocal competition was Max Morris (Narberth & Whitland Rotary)

Alaw performed Handel’s Passacaille, My Favourite Things by Richard Rodgers and Perlau yn y Glaw by Mared Emlyn. Max’s chosen pieces were Twymyn y Môr (Sea Fever) by John Ireland, Mitch Leigh’s The Impossible Dream, Anfonaf Angel (Guardian Angel) by Robat Arwyn and the Claude-Michel Schonberg song Stars, from Les Misérables.

Also competing were instrumentalists Evelina-Yeva Mukulska (violin), representing Lviv State Children’s Music School and Llanelli Rotary; Harry Armstrong (alto saxophone), representing Pembrokeshire College and Milford Haven Rotary; and vocalists Jasper Caradog-Hollett, representing Bishopston Comprehensive and Llanelli Rotary, and Connor Horton, representing QEHS and Tywi Rotary.

All Rotary Young Musicians brought their A-game to the chapel in Narberth for a night of enjoyable music.
All Rotary Young Musicians brought their A-game to the chapel in Narberth for a night of enjoyable music. (Narberth & Whitland Rotary)

Thanks go to Rev’d Chris Rees, Mrs June John and the deacons of the chapel for hosting this event.

Narberth & Whitland Rotary 2025 Young Musician first round contestants
Alongside Alaw and Max, there were other impressive performers, including Mared Phillips, Esyllt Corp, Harry Wilkinson, and pianist William Edward. (Photo supplied)

The Young Musician event is a fantastic annual tradition for Rotary, starting at the club level and building up to a national competition.

The winner of each competition will proceed to the Rotary District 1150 Final Competition which will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2pm at All Saints’ Church, Porthcawl.