Posted on Wednesday 11th July 2012
Winners Bryncelynnog Comprehensive School
Music to soothe Mother Nature and the environment could be heard at the Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd this week (10th July) as pupils took to the stage for this year’s Enviro-Vision competition.
The Enviro-Vision Song Quest, which is organised by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Streetcare Service, is now in its sixth year. The competition allows pupils from all around the County Borough to use the power of song to deliver important messages about the environment and indeed the planet we live in!
Music has often been called the language of love and has united people across political, cultural and generational borders. The power of song and music should never be underestimated and the young people of Rhondda Cynon Taf are hoping that their specially created environmentally themed songs will help to make a different to not only their local environment but the whole planet!
Back in 2009, Tonyrefail Comprehensive School competed in this unique competition, with their song, Oceans of Waste, which tells the story of the waste ground that has formed in the Pacific Ocean – which is bigger than most countries. The song has now become the soundtrack to the event being performed live last year by X-Factor star and previous Enviro-Vision contestant, Tom Richards.
The song has also been viewed by thousands of people via www.youtube.com| and recently appeared on ITV Wales Tonight programme.
This year’s major competition organised by the Council’s Streetcare Team in partnership with Sonig Youth Music Industry, which is part of the Council’s Cultural Services department, saw seven comprehensive schools produce their own songs and music to be performed in front of the enthusiastic crowd.
Groups from Tonyrefail Comprehensive School, Y Pant Comprehensive School, Aberdare Girls School, Porth County Community School, YG Y Cymer, Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive and Tonypandy Community College took to the stage to sing their heart out for Mother Nature and planet earth - the songs produced were based on one of several environmental themes including zero waste, reduce reuse recycle, food waste recycling and environmental crime.
Y Pant Comprehensive School opened with Don’t Drop it, Just Stop it, followed by Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School “Criminal”, Porth County Community School “Stop Before you Drop” Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda with “Gwend Gwahaniaeth Heddi”, Tonypandy Community College with “Zero Waste”, Tonyrefail Comprehensive School with ‘Call to Arms ‘ and finally Aberdare Girls Comprehensive School with “Environmental Crime”.
Special performances also took place from RCT Collective, featuring Rhondda Cynon Taf’s very own X Factor star, Jessica Jenkins followed by Ladies Love a Super Hero, who have recently returned from supporting McFly.
Amidst a huge roar of excitement Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School was named the winner of the County-Borough wide competition, followed by Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda in second place and Aberdare Girls Comprehensive School in third place. The top prizes included £600 for first place, £300 for second and £100 for third, with each of he entrants receiving a certificate as a token of appreciation for supporting this very important initiative.
This year’s judging panel included, singer/songwriter Amy Wadge, Orchard entertainment, Kam Kelly (Capital Radio), Steve Bush (Singer/Songwriter and producer, including for the Stereophonics hit albums Word Gets Around and Performance and Cocktails) and Nigel Wheeler (Director of Streetcare Services RCT Council).
Winners from Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School will now go on to perform in front of thousands of people at this year’s Ponty’s Big Weekend.
View photos from the night|
Councillor Andrew Morgan Cabinet Member for Frontline Services said: “Year on year the Enviro-Vision Song Quest gets better and better. Undoubtedly the standard of this year’s performance far surpassed all previous years which seems unbelievable considering how high the standard has always been.
“The Judges most certainly had the most difficult of decisions to make and I don’t envy them in their job in agreeing on the winner.
“The event once more showcased not only the exceptionally talented pupils in our schools, but also the many important environmental messages that we as a local authority continually drive home to our residents and visitors.
“The many themes running through the songs clearly reflect our commitment to raising awareness of such issues as fly-posting, dog fouling, littering, recycling, flytipping, graffiti and we hope such messages will remain in the minds of not only the performers, but the many hundreds of spectators who enjoyed a great night of entertainment.”
For further information visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk| or call 01443 827700