For half a century its intensive orchestral courses and adventurous foreign tours have been a rite of passage for classical musicians growing up in and around Edinburgh.

And if the rostrum of guest performers at this 50th anniversary gala proved the strength of Edinburgh Youth Orchestra alumni, the sound of the current band bodes extremely well for future generations of Edinburgh-bred talent.

It was a marathon celebration, which at six works and three hours long could have done with some trimming. It was no easy bill, either, opening with Elgar's tricky Cockaigne Overture (its skittish central passages flummox even the most experienced orchestras). EYO Patron Julian Lloyd Webber took a pensive rather than impassioned approach in Elgar's Cello Concerto; I admired the space he and conductor Garry Walker brought to the opening movement, but they needed more ebb and flow to keep up momentum. Things picked up with Evelyn Glennie as a captivating soloist and conductor En Shao drawing attentive, colourful orchestral playing in James MacMillan's Veni, Veni, Emmanuel.

But it was inevitable that the finest sounds of the night came with Donald Runnicles, former EYO horn player and student conductor, at the helm. An indisposed Nicola Benedetti was replaced by the excellent Jack Liebeck for the first movement of Beethoven's Violin Concerto; his silvery sound and thoughtful precision were matched by classy backing from the orchestra. In Wagner's Prelude to Die Meistersinger the strings were full-bodied and winds and brass brilliantly robust.

A playful arrangement of Happy Birthday by Eddie McGuire and a heartfelt address from Runnicles rounded off proceedings: "It was here, in the Usher Hall with EYO, that music first bit me," said the conductor.

"Please look after this orchestra. It's incredibly precious."

HHHH