North Staffordshire Symphony Orchestra Concert Jubilee Hall, Stoke

THE undoubted star of the North Staffs Symphony Orchestra's final concert of the season on Saturday was horn player Frank Procter – who has been a member for more than 45 years – in Mozart's 3rd concerto. Besides his superb technique, he displayed innate musical skills of subtle phrasing, delicately graded dynamics, musical flair and a beautiful sound. Despite the unhelpful acoustics of the Jubilee Hall, the strings, by turns robust and delicate, projected well in Grieg's Holberg Suite. Leader Sheila Dexter, viola player Janet Pazio and cellist Isobel Fowell played their various solos nicely.

A little known Rossini overture had started the concert with fine playing by principal horn Paul Sellers. Guest conductor Frank Wadkin, no stranger to Stoke-on-Trent audiences, provided the orchestra with a clear understanding of the music, to which they responded well.

David Burrowes