Crowds turned out to watch the magnificent Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra in action at Shrewsbury Castle this Wednesday - in spite of a clash with the England semi-final. 

It was a testament to the quality of the musical entertainment on offer that very few in the audience sloped off to catch the match. 

Joining the orchestra for the evening of film and proms favourites was the Whitchurch Town Pirate, who stepped in for conductor John Moore to take the baton during 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. 

He said he'd so much enjoyed himself conducting the orchestra at the previous night's concert in Whitchurch Market Hall, he wanted to do it again in Shrewsbury. 

The Whitchurch Pirate takes the baton from Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra conductor John Moore at Shrewsbury Castle

The evening included an arrangement of John Barry's iconic film music by local composer and arranger Matthew Hall, along with The Thunderbirds theme tune, Superman and Proms singalong favourites Finlandia and Jerusalem. 

The Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra family-friendly picnic concert has become a firm annual fixture, in a stunning outdoor setting within the walls of Shrewsbury Castle and tickets this year sold out several weeks in advance. 

This year's chosen charity for the fundraising concert in Shrewsbury was Shropshire Music Trust's 'Take it Up' programme, an instrumental tuition project in Shropshire schools established by SMT trustee and music teacher  Caroline Nowotarski. The Trust is helping to fill current gaps in music education by funding free music lessons in schools with the greatest need, in partnership with Shropshire Music Service. 

Shropshire Music Trust Chair Jane Povey spoke movingly about the need to support instrument learning in schools to help create musicians of the future. 

The Whitchurch Town Pirate in action at Whitchurch Market Hall

The Whitchurch Market Hall concert was also a stellar success, with standing room only, in spite of the heat, and a wonderfully supportive audience. All profits there will go to support Whitchurch's Blackberry Fair on Saturday, October 3rd this year. 

Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra will return this Autumn on Sunday, November 22nd in the Alington Hall, Shrewsbury (3pm).