Two Pembrokeshire musicians were in the top three of a prestigious musical competition for young people in West Wales.

The title of Dyfed Young Musician was won by 17-year-old pianist Siriol Jenkins from Wiseman’s Bridge, with violinist Eleanor Hodgson from Lamphey taking third place.

But a darker note was sounded as the Dyfed Young Musician and Young Composer projects were held over the weekend at Rhosygilwen, Cilgerran, when organisers revealed a £23,000 shortfall for next year’s events after losing Arts Council of Wales support.

Siriol, a student at Ysgol y Preseli, and Eleanor, who attends Pembrokeshire College, were among five musicians chosen from an entry of 19 from Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to appear in the final concert.

Runner-up was trombonist Rhydian Tiddy from Llandybie.

Previous winners over the last 22 years have included former royal harpist to the Prince of Wales, Catrin Finch, and prominent pianist Jocelyn Freeman, from St. Davids.

But adviser to the Young Music Makers of Dyfed project, Emyr Wynne Jones, revealed next year’s events were in danger after the loss of arts council funding. The projects are much more than a simple competition. The process begins each autumn with a series of masterclasses for young musicians who wish to be involved before the finalists are selected.

Similarly the composers’ strand features concerts and workshops in schools throughout south-west Wales involving as many as 1,000 pupils. This year, the non-competitive Young Composer process resulted in more than 70 original compositions for early music group Red Priest, whose rock approach to chamber music has won them an international audience.

Organisers are seeking new sources of funding, but may not know the outcome until weeks before the 2017 project is due to begin. In the meantime, a number of fundraising events are being planned over the coming months.

Chairman Michael Parkin said: “This project is unique in Britain. There is nothing else with a composer-in-residence and an international ensemble of this calibre working with schools. We always bring in people who are going to offer not just virtuosity but something that will inspire the kids. Young people from here go on to conservatoires and orchestras, but the most exciting thing is that they grow up knowing they can write music and go on to have a career in it.”

This year’s judges also included another former Young Musician of Dyfed and current royal harpist, Anne Denholm, clarinettist Katherine Spencer and pianist Andrew Wilson-Dickson. Composer-in-residence was Lynne Plowman, marking the end of her three-year term.