Fifth anniversary rehearsal

Rice crispie cakes and a modest drink on the Choir in the Green Room – the NSC isn't a group to squander its resources on an elaborate celebration even for its fifth anniversary rehearsal, a significant milestone for a set-up that still runs largely fund-free on commitment, talent and goodwill.

As if to personify these qualities, John Harle, loyal supporter and patron-to-be, arrived to conduct a rehearsal that with a dozen pieces in five hours, was tightly timetabled even by NSC standards. With equal measures of masterful calm and clear-sightedness, John ensured that this stamina-sapping schedule stayed focussed and constructive, and most rewarding of all, confirmed the quality of composing and arranging talent that's emerging from within the choir. A closer look at Matt London's Funkadelia reinforced just how good the piece is, and with a new arrangement of Bonny Boy to sit alongside her sax choir Nimrod, Jen Ashley looks as if she is emerging as the lyrical-and-mellow specialist. However, it would be churlish to deny that Mike Brogan's now complete arrangement of Peter and the Wolf definitely stole the limelight; with John multi-tasking as conductor and narrator, it became obvious just how colourful and gripping Mike's account is. Now the only issue is to secure it some prestigious performance time.

All this new and emerging talent generates a huge amount of confidence in the long-term future of the Choir's repertoire, but the remainder of the rehearsal really brought home how strong its foundations are too. M.D. Nigel Wood was represented as composer (Safaria), arranger (Nessun Dorma, Rumanian Dances) and performer (Waltzing Soprillda); principal guest conductor Richard Ingham was there in spirit as Mrs Malcolm, competition winner Roger May has combined the tropics with middle England in Simon's Mangrove Groove and Choir favourite Uli Schultheiss' Metropolitains promises to become a new NSC classic.

Meanwhile Chris Gumbley was directing the National Saxophone Ensemble, in compact format for this rehearsal, in an adjoining studio. It must sometime seem to the NSE that its older sibling is all size and swagger, but they should nurture their confidence and hang on in there – age isn't everything.

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