TEENAGE oboe sensation Gracie Lewis was the star of the show as the Royal Forest of Dean Orchestra followed up their recent Ukraine fundraiser with a “highly successful” Spring Concert in Newnham.

The orchestra held the annual concert at Newnham’s St Peter’s Church on Saturday (April 2) in what was their first performance in the village at “daffodil time” since before the pandemic.

17 year-old Wyedean student Gracie gave an “exquisite” performance of Cimarosa’s Concerto for Oboe and Strings to an appreciative audience on the day, with Lydney oboist Caron de Burgh the guest conductor for the piece.

The concert organisers say Gracie is “certainly going places” having just been awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

The event was also a family affair for Gracie, with both her mother Sophie, who is chief executive of the National Children’s Orchestras of GB, and her professional violinist dad Simon, performing at the concert.

The organisers says the orchestra “thoroughly enjoyed” their return to Newnham for the first time in three years.

The orchestra played an eclectic programme of music featuring Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges’ Symphony in D Major, Janácek’s Andante and Adagio from Idyll for Strings and the “intriguing” Charles Ives’ piece, The Unanswered Question.

The concert closed with a “rousing” performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No 1.

A retiring collection was also held in aid of Cancer Research UK, in memory of orchestra oboist Val Jackson.

The orchestra’s Summer Concert will take place at St Paul’s Church, Parkend, on July 16.

The concert came hot on the heels of the orchestra’s recent fundraiser for Save the Children’s Ukraine Appeal, which took place in Parkend last month.

Together with members of the Forest Flute Choir, Monmouth Concert Orchestra and Ukrainian mother and daughter singers Ala and Nadia Postolatii, the musicians helped to raise £4,200 to support families affected by the war.