Recent Events across Gwent Wide
Back to Gwent WideRoad Safety Music Challenge 2009
The Concert for this year’s Road Safety Music Challenge Final took place at The Blake Theatre, Monmouth on 9th November. Five Comprehensive Schools were represented from Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Monmouthshire. The competing bands and soloist performed their compositions to a very high standard on an Anti Drink-Drive theme with the audience responding enthusiastically.
The winners were decided by a panel of three judges, all with excellent knowledge and experience of music and interpretation of a message. The judges were Polly James from Nation Radio, Steve Baker from ROSPA and St John Diston from Gwent Music.
The winning bands were:
First: Lewis School Pengam, who won £250
Second: Abertillery Comprehensive, who won £150
Third: Nantyglo Comprehensive, who won £100
The prizes were presented by Chief Superintendent Kevin Price of Heddlu Gwent Police who said,
“The high standard and amount of effort put in by these young people is very impressive. They are promoting an important message. For many years we have tried a range of strategies to get the anti drink drive message over. Music is a powerful medium and these musicians are in a position to influence their peer group, families and the wider community. They are our future and I seek their support in getting over this important message.”
The event was attended by dignitaries from all over Gwent. Cllr John Evans, Mayor of Caerphilly CBC said, “The standards shown by the students this evening have been absolutely superb. I am glad that I’m not one of the judges as choosing the winner will be very difficult!” He was delighted to find later that the winning band came from a Caerphilly school.
Also in the audience were teachers, parents and friends who all supported the pupils taking part by getting into the spirit of the event.
The winning band will have the opportunity to record their song at a commercial recording studio. It will also be used as the basis of an advertisement on Nation Radio to promote the All Wales Anti Drink- Drive Campaign from the 3rd December 09.