The undoubted star of the North Staffs Symphony Orchestra’s final concert of the season on Saturday at the Jubilee Hall was horn player Frank Procter (a member of the orchestra for over forty five years) in Mozart’s 3rd concerto.

Besides his superb technique, he displayed innate musical skills of subtle phrasing, delicately graded dynamics, musical flare and a beautiful sound, all of which ensured a most excellent and memorable performance.

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. In Dvorak’s Czech Suite the principal winds, Chris Baggs, Diana Clementson, Samantha Ball and Marie Bateman  played with musical assurance.

A little known Rossini overture began 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 and perceptive understanding of the music to which they responded well. The concert ended with a confident performance of Haydn’s Clock Symphony.

David Burrowes