FOUNDED in 2003 by Professor Georgette Popa the ICPO offer the performers a wide variety, including, for the more senior players, the Seraphim Symphony.

Their mission is to provide a competitive musical and artistic environment in which every exceptional young musician has the opportunity to perform as a soloist within an orchestral setting . Having performed in the Olympic Park, Oxford and Edinburgh, this was their final venue before returning to California.

Opening with the Scottish Lament Ashokan Farewell by J Ungar the solo violin was beautifully played by Gelina Linsangan.

In a lighter mood Fiddler’s Stew by Richard Meyer consists of famous violin melodies disguised cleverly in the music.

Sibelius wrote his Andante Festivo for string quartet in 1922 but later extended it for string orchestra and here the rendition was of the highest standard. Dianne Gray was the excellent conductor.

Then it was the turn of the soloists and first on was Robin Shin who played the first movement of Haydn’s Cello Concerto with great enthusiasm. This was followed by a stunning performance of Monti’s flamboyant Czardas by Taylor Cooksey where she showed incredible technical skills. Next up was Steve Hart in a powerful rendition of the Rondo from Hoffmeister’s Viola Concerto.

Katherine Li was full of confidence in the Rondo of Beethoven’s 2nd Piano Concerto whilst Kate Nakamura showed in her incredible intense rendition of Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso that she has the making of a great violinist in years to come. Maxim Eshkenazy, the superb conductor, brought this excellent concert to a close with a lively version of Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No 1. Both the British Heart Foundation and Alabare were beneficiaries from this musical evening.