Junior Musician & Singer of the Year Competition.

TALENTED schoolchildren throughout the Rhondda gave the performance of their young lives at the Grand Final of the Treorchy Male Choir and Coca Cola Junior Musician of the Year Competition.

A total of 27 children took to the stage at Treorchy Comprehensive School hall, which had been magically transformed into an atmospheric theatre, before a packed audience of 500 parents, teachers and supporters for the major event.

In a special announcement by Coun Jane Ward, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, sponsorship was made available by the local authority for the third year running. It meant that the two winners would be able to enjoy an all-expenses paid holiday to EuroDisney in Paris.

The winner of the Singing Category was Treorchy Primary School pupil Ffion Wilde who performed “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music.

The winner of the Instrumentalist Category was Charlotte White of Maerdy Junior School who performed “Moon River” on the piano.

Now celebrating its third year, a total of 15 primary and junior schools in the two valleys entered the competition which is sponsored by Coca Cola Enterprises. The patron for the competition is Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel MBE.

Rhondda Assembly Member Leighton Andrews opened the evening’s proceedings and BBC broadcaster Roy Noble presented the prizes.

A performance of items by the Tre¬orchy Male Choir was also given, resulting in rapturous applause.

Over the past six weeks hundreds of schoolchildren have auditioned in a series of preliminary heats, judged by members of Treorchy Male Choir. The finalists received a certificate, trophy and tickets for themselves and an adult, to a day out in london to see The Lion King in the West End.

The two winning finalists of one singer and one instrumentalist each received £200 prize money, a trophy and the Treorchy Male Choir and Coca Cola Trophy to be retained by their school for one year. They also shared the stage with Treorchy Male Choir and the Parc & Dare Band at their Annual Good Friday Concert.

The Grand Final had an impressive list of adjudicators, including BBC Radio Wales broadcaster Beverley Humphreys, Cory Band Conductor Dr. Robert Childs, Mezzo Soprano Kate Woolveridge, Conductor of the Four Counties Youth Choir Derek Holvey and Janice Ball, the Conductor of Treorchy Male Choir.

Rhondda Assembly Member Leighton Andrews opened the evening’s proceedings and BBC broadcaster Roy Noble presented the prizes.

Mr Andrews said: “This event has become an important evening in the Rhondda calendar and once again I applaud the incredible hard work which has been undertaken to ensure this competition takes place.

“The incredibly high standard of entrants, and the high-profile list of adjudicators illustrates just how important this evening has become and I thank Treorchy Male Choir for making it another outstanding success.”

The photograph shows BBC Presenters Roy Noble and Beverley Humphreys presenting the winners with their trophies.