ABERYSTWYTH youngsters have taken the first three places in this year’s Young Musician of Dyfed final.

On Saturday, 8 April, the title Young Musician of Dyfed was won by guitarist George Nash, a former pupil of Penglais School, now studying at the Academy Contemporary Music, Guildford.

Clarinettist Ioan Price, a pupil at Penglais School was runner-up and trombonist Ifan Llywelyn of Ysgol Penweddig came third.

Many former winners of the competition have gone on to forge very successful musical careers including three royal harpists to the Prince of Wales.

At the final, the Young Music Makers of Dyfed charity received a financial boost through the fund-raising efforts of its chairman, Emyr Wynne Jones.

Mr Wynne Jones presented the charity with a cheque for £10,000 raised as a result of his challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro last October.

Mr Wynne Jones from Cwmffrwd, a former music advisor to Carmarthenshire County Council decided to climb Africa’s highest mountain as 60th birthday present ‘treat’ following his retirement.

Having worked closely with Young Music Makers of Dyfed over the last 23 years, he realised that the challenge would also provide an opportunity to raise money for the charity which offers young people from Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion the opportunity to work with professional musicians.

The cheque was presented at Neuadd y Dderwen, Rhosygilwen, during a weekend of music-making organised by the Young Music Makers.

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