You'd expect one of the biggest school orchestras in Wales to boast one or two rare talents. But Tenby's world famous Ysgol Greenhill Orchestra has, by the super sound of it, much more than a few ace musicians.

Nobody doubts that at the recent Save Our Music concert at Folly Farm, we heard junior playing of the finest calibre. A glittering diamond of an orchestra.

The biggest strengths of this youthful gathering are diversity and courage. No easy options here.

You don't often hear Ron Goodwin's majestic theme 'Where Eagles Dare' played live. And no wonder.

It's difficult stuff and if you're not crisp, perfectly-timed, and fully aware of the stark drama of it, then you're done for. But no need for anxiety, here.

Yes, it was a great Richard Burton film, but I can't recall the sound track sounding as punchy, evocative and thrilling as this.

Sponsors Chevron and Folly Farm must have thrilled to the polished tribute to Louis Armstrong titled 'Satchmo'. How different to a war film theme is that? And even in 'Satchmo' there are violent swings of style and mood.

From Armstrong's '60s number one hit, 'It's a Wonderful World' to 'St. Louis Blues'. No trouble to this classy orchestra.

Humour eased in, too with the jaunty Pink Panther theme. Magic.

So far I've enthused only about the biggest Greenhill orchestra. But, of course, conductor Paul Rapi leads other school orchestras as well - the symphony orchestra and the wind band, both introduced by informative and ever-faithful compere, Newman Vincent.

If you play an obscure piece of classical music you can sometimes get away with discordant inaccuracy, because few know what to expect. The opposite is true of 'Beethoven's 5th'.

In tackling this most familiar of classics, Greenhill symphony members took their life in their hands. Yet it came off beautifully, growing in confidence to reach excellence as the piece progressed.

For Greenhill Wind Band, it was show time. More musical excellence here. Let's single out the Glen Miller cocktail. The tunes are so familiar, they seem easy to play. But even a blatant 12-bar like 'In the Mood' was complex and tricky under Maestro Miller's baton. The Greenhill juniors needed to work very hard to get it just right - and they did.

Paul Rapi stood down and took the accompanist's stool for the school's chamber choir, led by Sarah Benbow. Another wide-ranging and challenging choice, but melodiously executed, by smiling youngsters who obviously enjoyed it hugely. And you can't take your eyes off the flamboyant, graceful, conducting skills of the Admirable Benbow.

It's sometimes lamented that young musicians in Pembrokeshire can't always match their presentation to superior playing skills. Some are more likely to glower than smile. But this time, the smiles stayed in place. And what a difference that makes.

Maybe they were happy with relief. Tenby Greenhill orchestras came close to extinction due to financial cuts. Tenby folk revolted as one - and let's hope that bizarre proposal is now history.

Malcolm Stacey