Last Friday, at Monkton Priory Church, Pembroke, a group of musicians and choristers from Eschwege in central Germany, gave a performance of outstanding virtuosity. The Neuber's Musicians, consisting of over 30 multi-talented members, were in Pembrokeshire to give two concerts arranged by the Rotary Clubs of Haverfordwest and Pembroke, one to be in Monkton Priory, and the other in St. Martin's Church in Haverfordwest. The musicians had been to Pembrokeshire in the past at the invitation of Rotary, and on each occasion had captivated audiences with their musical talent.

This visit was to have the same effect and introduced to a capacity audience by Frank Harries, of Pembroke Rotary, they began their concert with a rendering of a 10th century hymn while processing down the central aisle to their position beneath the chancel arch.

The mixed choir, ranging in age from 10 years to adults, sang in all seven items, while both the string and brass sections, positioned in the transepts, gave individual performances and accompanied the choir singing, a recorder group in a recital of Christmas carols, and solo artists.

Prominent among the solo performers was soprano Anica Pfeiffer, who had the audience enthralled with the purity and balance in her rendering of such items as 'Ave Maria' and 'Rejoice Greatly' from Handel's Messiah, while an organ pastorale by Bach, played by Geraldine Groenendijk and Anna Linss on the Priory organ, was most uplifting.

The versatility of the musicians was very much in evidence, with at one moment someone singing in the choir and the next playing an instrument, either individually or in a group, or, as in some cases, even conducting.

At the conclusion of a very special evening, Malcolm Green, past president at Haverfordwest Rotary, former High Sheriff of the county, and Master of The Freemen of Haverfordwest, who first brought the Neuber's Musicians to Pembrokeshire, spoke of the high quality which the audience had been exposed to that evening and stressed the point that Rotary was an international movement and it was fitting that concerts such as this took place as often as possible.

David Grainger, president of Pembroke Rotary, also expressed his delight at the music that had filled The Priory and said he had great pleasure on behalf of Pembroke Rotary to present to Herr and Frau Neuber a framed print of a painting of Monkton Priory, kindly donated by local artist George Lewis.

He added that their efforts in promoting such music that had been heard at this concert was to be admired and that it was good to see that Heike Neuber, on harp and tympani, and in conducting, was carrying on the tradition.

Present at the concert were Stewart Fletcher, president of Haverfordwest Rotary, and Mrs. Fletcher, Rotarian Glan Phillips and Mrs. Phillips, and the Rev. Martin Cox, Rector of Monkton Priory Church, who also spoke of his enjoyment of the musical performance and commended each and everyone of the artists on their contribution to what was indeed a memorable experience.

Extensive refreshments were provided by ladies of Pembroke Inner Wheel in the Priory Church Hall after the concert.