Jane Farge in Concert will take place at the Wesley Methodist Church in Hamilton on Sunday, May 31, at 7pm.

The concert is a fundraiser with all money going towards the Bermuda School of Music Bursary Fund to assist children who cannot afford lessons.

The event is dedicated to the late Dr Gary Burgess, who was a well-known Bermudian opera singer and music director at the Bermuda School of Music.

The Bermuda School of Music, a not-for-profit registered Bermuda charity, has been providing music education to the Island since 1978, commencing with the Dunbarton School of Music and followed by several mergers, including that of the Bermuda Academy of Music and the Bermuda Conservatory of Music in 2001.

Offering the finest musical education by highly qualified local and international staff, the school provides instruction for children and adults in piano, voice, organ, recorder, flute, saxophone, clarinet, guitar (classical and electric), percussion, steel pan and all string instruments.

There are also classes in music theory, composition and jazz studies.

While most of our students are of school age, participants in our programme include every age group, from infants to retirees.

• Up Close with Jane Farge:

“I started singing when I was three, running up and down the garden. I don’t know where my music talent comes from but since the age of six I can remember my father regularly taking me to concerts.”

Jane attended the Royal College of Music in Kensington, London, at the age of 12 as a junior exhibitioner.

Jane explained: “My early lessons prior to the Royal College of Music were paid for by donations from families and friends in my area of Southend on Sea, Essex, UK. The prestigious Royal College of Music fees were scholarships from the college and Essex County Council.

“I see this concert as an opportunity to give back to the children in need.”

At 18, Jane was awarded a full scholarship as a Senior Student at The Royal Schools of Music.

Jane’s performing experience started at a young age. It took her to France, Germany, Sicily and then to Bermuda in the mid-1980s as a teacher. Jane started to teach at The Bermuda School of Music in 2012.

When asked what the audience could expect, Jane said: “Easy-listening music — it’s not too long, approximately an hour. The show has great variety with German Lieder, some opera and violin and organ. It is a nice combination and variety. The event is in memory of my fellow singer and friend, the deceased Dr Burgess. I took singing lessons from him for years.”

Accompanying Jane at the concert will be Jennifer Sheridan and Lloyd Matthew.

Jennifer Sheridan has been playing violin since the age of four. Originally from Chicago, Jennifer teaches violin and cello in the Suzuki String Programme.

She said: “Music is another way to communicate. Music is an important part of the community and the violin is a social instrument.”

She added that “my inspiration comes from watching others perform”.

Lloyd Matthew, executive director of The Bermuda School of Music, said he enjoyed accompanying and was looking forward to being part of the concert.

He said the selection included German Lieder, which is a love of his.

“I have also been asked to play one piece on the organ and I have chosen March on a theme of Handel Guilmant,” he said. “Dr Gary Burgess was a lover of the music of Handel.”

• Tickets to the concert are available from Music Box, pTix.bm and the Bermuda School of Music.