After a very successful Four Parishes Arts & Crafts Exhibition on Saturday and Sunday 10 and 11 May at Quarley Hall, members returned on Tuesday 13 May to listen to the Kennet Accordion Orchestra.

The Orchestra has been in existence for 22 years and members are drawn from Berkshire, Wiltshire and Hampshire. After winning their area competition, the orchestra was able to enter, for the first time, the National Accordion Championships at Blackpool gaining two second places out of two sections.

It was an evening for lovers of well known and popular music over the years brought to life by the magical playing of 13 accordions under the skilful direction of David Watson. The concert opened with a popular James Last tune followed by David Watson describing the ‘intricacies’ of the accordion and the composition of the orchestra. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera was followed by the ‘Italian Suite’ with some very well known and loved Italian tunes. Then came the delightful rendering of Memories from Lloyd Webber’s show Cats. More delight as Night and Day followed. Nigel, the lead accordionist, with the backing of the orchestra, entertained us to some very lively Russian music. A wonderful rendering of High Noon and Riders in the Sky delighted the audience and so the evening progressed with a melody of more tunes, taking us into the world of well known and loved music, and finishing with James Lasts’ signature tune.

It was an evening we were glad not to have missed. So many of the audience were surprised and delighted at the unexpected sounds coming from an orchestra of accordions and now look forward to attending further concerts the orchestra is presenting in and around the area.