MORE and more chairs were wheeled into the Eastgate Studio on Sunday for the final Serenata concert of the season, writes Claire Garnett.

And the huge audience was to be rewarded by no less than 28 performers playing a varied programme of excellent music.

The smallest performers, on recorder, gave a confident performance of music about creepy crawlies starting with ‘Ants in your Pants’, which raised a giggle from the young players.

And there was plenty more where that came from as their teacher, Tracy Short, knows how to inspire children and make it fun, while achieving a high musical standard.

In the first group the big tenor recorders gave an excellent bass line – good to hear from such young players.

This showed in the saxophone quartet’s performance which ended with a spirited rendering of Scott Joplin’s ever-popular ‘Entertainer’.

I was impressed by the liquid tone of the saxes – in particular, the baritone, which is not an easy instrument for small fingers.

Perhaps the most moving and beautiful music came from the two fiddlers, Jennifer Brown and Rowan Steele.

They played some lovely old Scots tunes, many quite sad and reflective, but contrasted with lively reels to get the toes tapping. Neil Gowe’s ‘Lamentation’ and the ‘Farewell to the Glen’ played by Rowan, brought tears to the eyes.

Jennifer’s double stopping was most effective and the two girls harmonised well as if on one instrument.

The concert ended with Sarah Chapman’s confident performance of Finzi’s Bagatelles for clarinet, with Caroline Adam on the piano ending with themes from Sceherazade – Caroline playing a full orchestra on the Steinway with Sarah playing, well, almost 1000 and one themes.

Serenata will resume in the Autumn to showcase more of the wonderful musical talent from our community.