SOME of the Vale's most talented amateur musicians were on display at the Music in the Vale competition in Penarth.

At Stanwell school singers and instrumentalists demonstrated their amazing skills at the finalist concerts held on Saturday, November 31 and Sunday, December 1.

A spokesman for Music in the Vale said: "As someone attending the finalists' concerts remarked 'Music in the Vale must be the best kept secret in the Vale of Glamorgan'.

"The talent of all those performing was absolutely amazing. Probably the best ever in the history of the competition."

On the Saturday the winner of the senior prize was baritone Lucasz Karauda, who recently graduated with distinction from the MA Opera Performance course at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Jodi Bird of Penarth won the intermediate prize for the third year running with a fabulous performance of Down by the River to Pray.

Jodi Bird and Manon Ogwen Parry, both from Penarth, won the vocal ensemble prize. The choir from St Illtyd’s Primary School Llantwit Major were runners up.

On Sunday it was the turn of the Instrumentalists to compete. Rachel Starritt of Bridgend won the newly awarded prize of most promising pianist, dedeicated to the memory of Steven Burges who died suddenly in the this summer and had worked as an accompanist for Music in the Vale for many years.

Ten-year-old Jack Ollier won the most promising instrumentalist in the Vale of Glamorgan award.

Music in the Vale thanked Stanwell school for inviting them to hold this year's competition there.