With 23 coloured Epoch violins in the hands of the senior strings section, the orchestra, under the baton of Musical Director Bruce Davidson, played two movements of Concerto Grosso for string orchestra by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

"It was fantastic. We excelled ourselves in the combined pieces ...it was terrific.

They (Epochs) certainly looked fantastic when you see them all there in their different colours. And sound wise, terrific, if you were sitting in the audience you would hardly notice any difference at all...So fantastic.

(The Epoch could be a useful instrument) in the ease of playing and consistent quality all the way across. It would be great, instead at school of having a whole pile of rotten instruments, having something that is very consistent all the way across, it would be great.

If I'm willing to have a go, anyone is.

I think that the use of the coloured instruments would perhaps engender a bit of interest in the first place and then at the end of the process maybe help keep the interest there a little bit longer. I know the kids enjoyed the use of the instruments today and hopefully we might be able to do something like this again, with a few more instruments.

Musically, the Epochs did quite well today. Sitting out in the audience you would not have noticed any difference except for the brighter colours...which is great and that's what you are after.

I'm a traditionalist and I would be one of the first ones not to like the idea, but I was quite happy to have a go and wouldn't have any problem with them playing in an orchestra at all."

NOTE: The viola player is using a modified instrument, using the Epoch technology. The holes in the side are intentional. The acoustic qualities of the viola are greatly enhanced by the "surgery". A true Epoch Viola is on the drawing board.