By Abbie Rands

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From the moment we enter the auditorium to a stage illuminated by soft blue lighting and filled with chairs from edge to edge, I can tell this is going to be something special. There is a sense of both excitement and reverence which marks this out as being a one-of-a-kind performance.

There was a wonderful sense of respect and community as we welcomed the musicians of the RAF Central Band onstage which lasted throughout the evening. Opening with the British anthem was a great way to start the concert and the sound effects and introduction to the RAF and flight itself were fitting additions to the music itself. The standard of performance was incredible; IÔÇÖd forgotten just how an orchestral concert can make you feel ÔÇô elated, emotional and one with the audience and performers around you.

The variety of music was truly wonderful. There were classic and traditional pieces including the ÔÇÿRAF March PastÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿSpitfire Prelude & FewÔÇÖ coupled with more contemporary pieces and very fitting songs such as ÔÇÿCome Fly With MeÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿMr Blue SkyÔÇÖ (complete with fire extinguisher percussion!) with outstanding vocal performances from Phillippa Hobbs and Mark Walker. They also sang a beautiful piece written by McFlyÔÇÖs Tom Fletcher, specifically to commemorate the RAFÔÇÖs centenary year.

Joseph Whelan, winner of this yearÔÇÖs RAF Soloist Competition, performed a frenetic and surprising piece on a xylophone, accompanied by drummers, which was unlike anything IÔÇÖve ever seen in an orchestra concert before. The trombone quartet gave an excellent rendition of a piece commissioned for the maiden flight of the Meteor aircraft, and lent some comic relief to the brass sectionÔÇÖs performance at the opening of the second part of the concert which was a complete crowd-pleaser and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone ÔÇô performers and spectators alike.

ÔÇÿThe Ride of the ValkyriesÔÇÖ was, as ever, an epic piece of music that had the audienceÔÇÖs pulses rising and falling in time with the music. The inclusion of the Welsh national anthem and a touching instrumental piece called ÔÇÿMy Little Welsh HomeÔÇÖ was incredibly moving and enjoyed by the whole audience- patriotism abounded throughout the auditorium.

The reading of a poem relaying the joys of flight by air cadet Hannah Adams accompanied by an orchestral elegy was a lovely addition to the repertoire. A piece written for the fiftieth anniversary of the RAF conveyed, as it intended, the development as well as the long history of the force.

All in all, a highly informative, enjoyable and contemporary performance, whilst maintaining all the tradition the institution is known for. The Centenary celebration did exactly what it set out to do: commemorate, celebrate and inspire.