A talented young pupil of Greenhill School, Tenby, was one of five flautists who took part in the final concert of Milford Haven Music Festival on Sunday evening after attending a Master Class with acclaimed Principal Flute with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Fiona Paterson.

With four other young local flautists, Amy Taylor took the stage with the celebrity guest at St. Katharine’s Church.

On Saturday, the Festival featured the world-renowned Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers, whose performance, with award-winning soprano Rhiannon Llewellyn as celebrity guest, amazed a large audience. Superlatives seem inadequate to express the powerful impact made by the choir singers on their listeners.

From their explosive opener with Orff’s ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana, to their spectacular climax of an awesome and animated ‘Les Miserables’ medley, the superbly disciplined, impeccably word- and note-perfect young choristers mesmerised their audience under the magical conducting of their founder musical director and conductor, John Hywel Williams. His flawless control confirmed his reputation as a benevolent ‘Svengali of the Baton.’

But there is no baton, for this amazing pedagogue conjures perfection with the skilled hands of a potter moulding an ornate urn. Anyone who can teach children to sing such songs as the famous Pearl Fishers duet and the Hallelujah Chorus has to be a magician and three standing ovations proved the point.

With Jane Jewell accompanying, Gareth Hamlin juggling expertly with an array of percussion instruments, and the conductor’s son Jeremy compering, the choir delighted with beautiful renderings of the songs which have wowed audiences in 120 countries across the globe from Moscow to the USA, Slovakia to Spain.

The concert also starred organist Huw Tregelles-Williams and accompanist Caradog Williams and featured operatic arias, folk songs and items from the musicals.

This main concert of the 14th Milford Haven Music Festival also featured the brilliant MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year, soprano Rhiannon Llewellyn, who, in scintillating form as celebrity guest, captivated her listeners with a varied programme, her warm personality, her soaring notes and acrobatic coloratura sparkling through. The clean, uncluttered acoustic ambiance of the church enhanced the entire performance.

An afternoon recital by celebrated Cardiff-born organist Jeffrey Howard proved a perfect aperitif for the Festival, which ended on Sunday with a wonderful performance by the brilliant Fiona Paterson, Principal Flautist of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic with Caradog Williams on piano.

This also provided a platform for talented young flautists, to eight of whom Miss Paterson earlier gave a Master Class and who were presented with certificates, five of them playing in the concert. Introduced by Festival artistic director Gary Grififths, they were Amy Taylor (Greenhill), Ella Townsend and Olivia Rogers (STP), Elys Phillips (Pembroke) and Daniel Jones (Tasker Milward), their accompanists being Dr. Stuart Evans and Mr. Seimon Morris.

President Glan Phillips thanked the generous sponsors and paid tribute to the work of Festival chairman June Rees, who together continue to make this important local festival possible.