A PENARTH pupil has netted a top music prize at a national contest this week.

Ysgol Gymraeg Pen-y-Garth pupil, Efa Peak, 11, took first place in the Year Six and under category of the Harp competition at this years’ National Urdd Eisteddfod at Bridgend.

She played a piece by David Watkins called ‘Firedance’ which Efa said was “tricky but dramatic as well”, adding: “I loved performing on stage and I’m really thrilled to have won”.

Efa started playing the harp when she was just four years old and comes from a musical background having been taught by her mother Kathryn Rees, who is also a harpist. Efa now attends the Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama every Saturday where she studies both harp and piano.

Kathryn said “Efa’s worked very hard over the last few months and so I’m delighted that she has been rewarded for her efforts”.

In November Efa won the Music in the Vale Junior competition and has since taken part in a number of local recitals. She is attending a harp course in the summer with the American Harp Ensemble culminating in performances at St David’s Cathedral and Cardigan Castle. Her next performance will be in a showcase recital as part of the Penarth Music Festival on July 20th.

Pen-y-Garth headteacher Iona Edwards was full of praise too for her talented pupil saying: "We are absolutely delighted with Efa's success at the Urdd National Eisteddfod and very proud that we have such a talented pupil at Ysgol Pen-y-Garth".