THERE were celebrations all round for Music Maker on Friday, November 25 as the group celebrated its fifth birthday.

What an exciting fifth year it has been too - with a show at the Palace Theatre in March, taking part in the final show at the Palace before its refurbishment and supporting Jools Holland at the Air Festival in June.

Bringing in old and new songs into their performance as well as young and "old" performers, they enlisted some original members to return from university to perform as well as promoting their very young Mini Music.

Beginning with John Miles' Music (was my first love) - this statement was carried through from beginning to end.

Very professional performances from Kat Howell and Emma Hipkin dueting and Laura Poyner's solo brought back memories of their younger days whilst the enthusiasm of the little ones singing an old Wham! classic showed the rising potential there is in Music Maker.

As their music director Malcolm Carlton said, many youngsters get a bad press these days, but these youngsters go to show just how wrong that can be!

However, with a star-studded band as backup and a huge amount of support and hard work from the Music Maker team these youngsters must surely be learning from their leaders. Here's to another five years of Music Maker!

Jane Maries