Every year I look forward to the OMF concert, knowing that I am going to be impressed by the wealth of talent on display. This year’s offering — the grand finale to two action-packed weekends of competitive music-making — didn’t disappoint for a moment.

The Hook Norton Training Brass Band ensured a cheery and suitably celebratory start — for this concert is indeed a celebration of all the hard work that goes on before and during the festival from the musicians and those behind the scenes. And so Tielmann Susato’s Battle Pavan and Tequila, arranged by Alan Fernie, set just the right tone.

A thing I’ve always enjoyed about this concert is seeing the same faces, year after year. Pianist Yaolin Zheng, whom I first heard perform as an incredibly talented nine-year-old, back in 2003, has matured eight years on into a highly proficient player. She proved this with a dazzling rendition of Liszt’s Sonetto 123 Del Petrarca.

Another favourite is Michael Ng, who has now won the Ernest Pinnell Memorial Cup — created in memory of my father — three times. His performances of Michael Rose’s Habanera and the challenging Tsunami by Stephen Montague were brilliant. In fact, Michael won two cups — and if there had been one for the cheekiest grin, he might have had three.

He would have faced stiff competition, though, from Jackie Campbell, from Manchester, who played Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu with such maturity that with eyes shut you could easily imagine an adult playing.

Another highlight was the the Frederic/Ruth duet You Have Deceived Me from The Pirates of Penzance, by Opera Anywhere’s Mike and Vanessa Woodward. I also enjoyed We’ll Gather Lilacs by young Katie Blackwell.

Also notable were Gilly McMullin’s account of Elgar’s cello concerto (first movement), the Rossetti String Quartet’s fast and furious Allegro from Shostakovich’s 8th String Quartet, and Eleanor Tinlin’s confident handling of Schumann’s Andante and Allegro.

So, as always, an impressive display of enthusiasm, talent and commitment. I look forward to seeing what next year brings.