Organisers of Grayshott's 'Martin Plays Mendelssohn' heaved a huge sigh of relief on Saturday night, 15th May, when their largest-ever orchestral event went without a hitch and to resounding applause from the 300-strong audience at St Luke's Church. The orchestra of 44 musicians forming the New London Sinfonia under conductor David Gibson was the largest ever to be assembled in Grayshott specially to perform the majestic Brahms Symphony No.1.

But the star attraction for many concert-goers was the ever-popular Mendelssohn Violin Concerto performed by local hero Martin Smith. Martin's virtuoso performance was enjoyed by many of his family together with friends who grew up with him in Headley. Within seconds of the final chords, he was presented with a bottle of champagne by 8-year-old Shoshanah Sievers, who has just made local history by winning a place at London's prestigious Royal College of Music to study Violin, Composition and Piano.

Two years ago, Martin was invited to Grayshott to perform the iconic Bruch Violin Concerto which proved a notable triumph for him and for Grayshott's ecstatic audience at St Luke's Church.

'We could hardly wait to get Martin back to perform for us,' said organiser, Peter Harrison. 'The Mendelssohn Violin Concerto is a delightful work – and Martin played it to perfection!' The programme opened with another first for Grayshott, the brief but stunning Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin by Wagner. 'It's a thrilling concert opener' added Mr Harrison, 'and the audience loved it.'

The concert was another milestone for conductor David Gibson, conducting the Brahms Symphony for the first time. His efforts were rewarded when he received a bottle of champagne from Marilyn Hoare of Sponsors Huntington House Nursing Home.