Like many musical promoters keen to attract new audiences, Birmingham Chamber Music Society is recognising the importance of involving young people, and on Saturday offered a platform for two groups of talented young performers.

In essence it was a double concert. First there was the Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, an extremely accomplished student ensemble under the expert direction of Paul Spicer. Then, a short recital by the equally impressive violinist Josephine Robertson (billed as the youngest musician ever to appear in the main part of a BCMS concert) supported by pianist Nadanai Laohakunakorn.

By concentrating on 20th century works, Spicer demanded much of his young singers, especially in Poulenc’s Quatre Motet Pour Le Temps De Noël. These, and short pieces by John Byrt, Vaughan Williams, Holst and Warlock showed varying degrees of emotional commitment, but were all marked by a youthful freshness of tone, rhythmic vitality and a remarkable level of technical assurance.