ON Friday night a disappointingly small audience was treated to another musical extravaganza which comprises Kidderminster's Proms.

As always, Stourport Brass Band got the show on the road with a masterful illustration of how a band should sound, under their brilliant musical director David Maplestone.

We were treated to a couple of items from Brassed Off, in which the band has performed on stage on several occasions, my particular favourite being Londonderry Air.

A highlight of their section was when trombonists Robert Clarke, Peter Farlow and Jacquie Robins dressed as nuns to play I Will Follow Him from the film Sister Act, accompanied by Alison Hatfield on flgel horn, complete with halo!

Stourport Choral and Operatic Society took to the stage next, opening with Dance a Cachucha from The Gondoliers.

Memories of old radio days were evoked With a Song in my Heart, which I felt was their best contribtuion, but they also included a lovely arrangement of Autumn Leaves, and more verses to When the Saints Go Marching In than I knew existed.

West Midland Light Orchestra's section was tinged with sadness. A hearing problem means it was the last time John Hutton was to sing with them. The soloist has been associated with the orchestra, and MFY, for some years, and, fittingly, ended with the song with which he auditioned for WMLO Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The orchestra accompanied him sympathetically, but almost succeeded in drowning out Jonathan Darby, playing so loudly that only the odd word of Surrey with the Fringe on Top was audible.

Wyre Forest Symphony Orchestra played Shostakovich's Festival Overture before leading the audience in the Proms with Pomp and Circumstance no 1, including Land of Hope and Glory, Fantasia on Sea Songs arranged by Sir Henry Wood.

The solo in Rule Britannia was taken by Mary Sinclair, while Union Flags were waved enthusiastically throughout the town hall, and despite the smaller-than-usual audience, we made a lot of noise!

Jerusalem, as always, brought the programme to a glorious close.

MFY is a highlight of Kidderminster's year, and mine.

VJS