THE only word I can think of to sum up this concert is "Wow". David Howles's idea to invite the concert-goers of Kidderminster to his birthday bash was inspired, and the talented singers of Wyre Forest combined with the Bostin' Pops Orchestra - new to me but absolutely brilliant - to present an afternoon of entertainment par excellence.

I can't pick out any "highlights" as there were no low spots in the entire show. The orchestra could have kept the volume down a tad when accompanying the singers, but that's nitpicking.

The orchestra gave us such delights as the theme music from ET and Murder on the Orient Express, and the piece which always conjures up mental pictures, The Dambusters March.

We were treated to solos by several artistes - Sarah Richards told us she Cain't Say No, Claire Worboys entreated Don't Rain on My Parade, Jonathan Darby asked us to Look Over There, from La Cage aux Folles, and Russell Painter sang one of my favourites, Anthem from Chess, backed by a group of singers.

There were duets, including Last Night of the World sung by Darren Richards and Laura Broad, and trios, and some wonderful ensemble items, such as Tonight from West Side Story, and John Rutter's beautiful setting of For the Beauty of the Earth.

On an afternoon when our hands were sore from so much clapping, possibly the most thunderous applause was for the ensemble items, especially the encore when all the artistes came on stage to sing the stimulating One Day More from Les Miserables.

VJS