THIS ensemble of talented amateur musicians has earned a reputation for quality music-making and on the evidence of this performance continues to deserve high praise.

There is clearly a wealth of musical talent in the area, and under the skilled guidance of conductor Tim Jackson the players produced a feast of music that was enthusiastically acknowledged by a large and appreciative audience.

The concert opened with a spirited and disciplined account of Mozart's Magic Flute overture which, with its changes of tempo and mood and variety of orchestral colour, showed off the orchestra's virtuosity and the skills of various sections in turn.

This was followed by a joyously brisk and business-like performance of Beethoven's second piano concerto. Beethoven, the programme notes informed us, mysteriously commended this work to his publisher with the modest claim that it was "not one of my best".

He would have been delighted, I am quite sure, by the way the soloist, Barbara White, put this exuberant music across, ably backed by the orchestra. One could sense the enjoyment of the players as they sailed confidently through this happy work, relishing the give and take between soloist and orchestra.

Dvorak's Seventh Symphony comes from the heart with an ever-present sense of power and energy alternating with moments of introspective calm and unaffected beauty.

The players were in top form, bringing out changes of mood convincingly and always in control of even the most tempestuous passages – a most persuasive and convincing performance.

The orchestra is a credit to the town and the concert was thoroughly enjoyable. The high standard of ensemble and mastery of changing moods says much for the skill and musicianship of Tim Jackson, who held everything together and ensured an evening of first-rate music-making.

J R Stanford-Roach