Palpable enthusiasm

“The enthusiasm was palpable … with the tension between moments of stillness and

the expectation of the next avalanche of sound, I got totally swept along. I will be

back!”

“I was astonished – the quality of this orchestra totally exceeded my expectations!”

“A brilliantly put together programme!”

These were some of the audience reactions to Sunday’s Horsham Symphony

Orchestra’s sell-out concert. What can I add? It was indeed a fabulous showcase for

the extraordinary skills of the HSO, handling the complex rhythms of the Bernstein

and the technical demands of the Dukas with apparent ease. And just in case we had

forgotten what a lush sound the strings can produce, the characterful Copland brought

it all back.

A special shout-out should go to the brass section – with magnificent solos from Andy

Sykes (trumpet) and Charlie Hancock (trombone). The woodwinds were impressive

too – Andrew Meredith (clarinet) launched the Gershwin stylishly, and Rachel Fryer

(piano) was sparkling and beguiling.

Maestro Steve Dummer’s helpful introductions made the occasion delightfully

relaxed and family-friendly. What a great way to start a Sunday evening!