One of the world's most successful concert pianists, Howard Shelley, with over 120 classical CD recordings to his name, delighted a full house of Grayshott music lovers at St Luke's Church, last week.

The event called "Mozart on the Ivories" is the first of Grayshott Concerts' sell-out series, staged in association with Buy In Grayshott (BIG), to feature the piano, in this case a 'Steinway' concert grand, worth almost £60,000. The programme included two Mozart Piano Concertos (Nos. 11 & 12), a Mozart Divertimento and a Rossini String Sonata performed together with the London Mozart Players, making their second visit to St Luke's. Mr Shelley is regarded as one of the world's foremost interpreters of Mozart with the skills both to play and to conduct the works from the keyboard.

"Seeing a pianist of this calibre perform live, right in front of you, is a fantastic experience" said Will Benson, MD of sponsors Applegarth Farm. "Every note was perfect and the balance was simply delightful" he added.

Headmistress, Lynne Taylor-Gooby, of The Royal School, sponsoring a Grayshott Concert for the first time was equally impressed. "It's wonderful that Howard Shelley was able to demonstrate his remarkable skills so close to us. His performance was electrifying."

Applause and shouts of 'Encore!" at the end of the event were enough to persuade the artiste to return to the piano with a dazzling performance of a solo work by Clementi, one of Mozart's contemporaries. "Simply astonishing! Just brilliant!" said sponsor Marilyn Hoare of Huntington House. "We're hoping to persuade Howard to come back next year and perform a Beethoven Concerto for Grayshott."

Local music critic Ann Pinhey gave her verdict following the concert...

"Those present at Friday's concert in St Luke's, Grayshott, were treated to an evening of wonderful chamber music played by six excellent musicians.

The main works were two early piano concertos by Mozart, K 423 in F and K414 in A. The interplay between the stylish pianist, Howard Shelley, and the sympathetic string players was most appealing. The A major concerto was most effective. The outer movements were sparkling, aptly paced and full of vitality. The slow movement revealed the sensitivity of Howard Shelley and was warmly expressive and eloquently shaped. These were winningly spontaneous performances.

The concert began and ended with two works for strings alone. Mozart's delightful Divertimento in D K 136 was polished, stylish and elegant with lively speeds in the outer movements.

Rossini's Sonata No. 1 in G is an amazingly accomplished work written by a twelve-year old. Speeds were challengingly fast and the playing was exhilarating and full of wit.

We were treated to a delightful encore. Howard Shelley spoke briefly, but captivatingly, about Clementi Piano Sonatas and then played a movement from one of them which displayed Clementi's sparkling, original work, and the pianist's immaculate finesse and musicianship – magical!"

Membership of 'Friends of Grayshott Concerts', giving priority booking opportunities, is up by 50% on last year and reservations are already being received for the next event, "Eroica", to be staged on Saturday 12th September at 7.30pm at St Luke's. More information from the Box Office 01428 606666 and on www.grayshottconcerts.co.uk