Review by Gerry Philp:

THE future of music in this country is alive and well.

To celebrate the final concert of its 2016 season the Chipping Sodbury Music Society welcomed young musicians from the South Gloucestershire Music Hub.

This organisation enables young pupils at local schools to involve themselves in the very widest range of music making.

The first half of the programme featured groups at the intermediate stage of achievement.

Second Wind brought out the pathos of the song “What a Wonderful World” to great effect. Intermediate Flutissimo coped well with the staccato effects of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal”.

Open and Crossing Strings gave a gentle and affectionate rendition of Vivaldi’s “Village Dance” and Blackwell’s “Barrier Reef”.

The second half was given by the more advanced players. The South Gloucestershire Youth String Orchestra played Nordic compositions by Hansen and Sibelius with rapt concentration, capturing the beauty and stillness of the music.

The Kingswood Senior Guitars, already booked to play with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra later this year, excelled with their playing of Satie’s “Gymnopedie No 1” a truly hypnotic piece.

The programme ended with the South Gloucestershire Youth Wind Orchestra. Their confident big band sound was contrasted with some exceptional flute playing during “Awakening Hills” by Richard Saucedo.

This was truly an evening to remember and special thanks must go to the various conductors and to Richard Jones, Music and Arts Strategy Manager.

And now, after such a brilliant end to its 69th season, the Society moves forward to celebrate its Platinum Anniversary with some outstanding performers.

As a precursor to that 70th Anniversary season there will be an exciting jazz event on Friday, September 15 at 7.30pm in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall.

The Dime Notes will present some of the great music from the ancestral repertoire of jazz.

Fronted by American pianist Andrew Oliver, a recent arrival to the UK, and by Chris Barber’s long-time clarinettist David Horniblow who is an established figure on the London jazz scene, the band is anchored by the unstoppable pulse of London’s finest rhythm guitarist Dave Kelbie and the bass chair is occupied by native Londoner Tom Wheatley.

Tickets are already on sale at Cadeaux & Co, the delightful gift shop in Hatherell’s Yard, Chipping Sodbury.

The Gala Concert on Tuesday, October 10 will feature the Amadeus Orchestra directed by Philip Mackenzie performing Handel’s “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”, Mozart’s “Clarinet Concerto” (Clarinet: Clare King) and Handel’s “Water Music”.

After that you can look forward to a viola/piano duo supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Medieval, folk and world music from Joglaresa, the stunning 4 Girls 4 Harps, the Marylebone Trio, the Dominic Alldis Trio where jazz will meet classical, and finally the Mandolinquents led by Simon Mayor.

  • Tickets for all events from ticketsource.co.uk/csmusicsociety or the Box Office on 01454 315741 and further information may be found on the website at csmusicsociety.co.uk