Following a wonderful week packed full with diverse music, the Welsh Proms 2014 drew to a stunning close on Saturday evening.

The Last Night of the Welsh Proms, at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, began before the audience even reached the auditorium, with a brass section playing in the open air, enticing everyone inside with a selection of songs including Bohemian Rhapsody.

Once inside, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Owain Arwel Hughes were ready with a varied and popular programme, that drew rapturous applause from an eager crowd, keen to enjoy themselves and join in.

First half highlights included the opening well-known and loved Preulde and Mazurka from the ballet Coppelia, and a polka and Dance of the Comedians from Smetana’s Bartered Bride.

Our favourite piece, though was Waldteufel’s Skaters Waltz, which had a beautiful horn solo and subtle but effective use of the minor percussion instruments, triangle and tubular bells. The audience hummed along loudly through the best known parts, which Owain Arwel Hughes assured us was a ‘world first’.

The wall-to-wall music continued on level three during the interval with some foot-tapping jazz from the Keith Little Band, with excellent solo performances from clarinettist, trombonist and young stand-in pianist Richard West.

As is tradition, it was after the interval that the fun and games really began with lots of flag and banner-waving and even some dancing in the promenade section.

The second half began with Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance and Owain Arwel Hughes soon had everyone on their feet and singing enthusiastically. Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld followed, (better known as the Can-Can!) then Gareth Wood’s Fantasy on Welsh Songs rounded off a superb evening.

We sang along to Cwm Rhondda, Ar Hyd Y Nos, We’ll Keep A Welcome, Myfanwy, and finally the Welsh hymn I Bob Un Sydd Ffyddlon.

Sosban Fach provided a fitting encore to end a wonderful evening – and Mr Hughes promised that despite the financial difficulties faced by the Welsh Proms, now in their 29th year, they would be back again next year.

For those who still hadn’t had enough, the Keith Little Band continued to make music into the night, eventually closing the Welsh Proms 2014 four hours after they began.