ON Saturday, December 7, I had a pleasurable evening listening to the York Symphony Orchestra in the Central Hall at the University of York.

The programme, including works by Weber, Janacek, Prokofiev and Dvorak, was more than competently played by the orchestra under the leadership of Claire Jowett, herself an excellent violinist and conducted by David Blake.

This orchestra bears the name of the city and in all the performances I have attended they have never let that name down either in enthusiasm or professionalism.

Each musician is a very competent player, some are teachers of their instrument and music but, above all, they play in a very professional way, one that makes it a very special pleasure to listen to them.

Even so, it is a great pity they are not supported as well as they could be, after all they are the York Symphony Orchestra and fully deserve the "house full" signs whenever they give a concert.

George W Bateson,

Moorland Garth,

Strensall,

York.

Updated: 11:41 Friday, December 13, 2002