As many as 300 musicians drew crowds of onlookers to City Hall yesterday lunchtime as the 40th Bermuda Festival was officially opened with a half-hour concert.

The massed orchestra included members of the English Chamber Orchestra outreach ensemble and Bermudian musicians.

Many had participated in the Festival outreach workshops that were offered this week.

The official opening ceremony was to feature a specially commissioned fanfare called Reach Out composed by Major Dwight Robinson, who is the director of music for the Bermuda Regiment.

“The official opening of the 2015 Bermuda Festival is very much about including our local musicians,” said Karen Pollard, the Bermuda Festival’s artistic director.

Bermuda Festival chairman Ian Davidson said this week: “As 2015 marks the ruby anniversary of the Bermuda Festival it is only fitting that we mark our commencement with the largest orchestra ever to perform on the Island.”

Members of the public who watched the opening ceremony and wish to post photos or videos, are asked to use the Festival’s hashtag: #BermudaFestival40th or tag the Bermuda Festival in posts at: Facebook: @BermudaFestival; Twitter: @BDAFestival; Instagram: @BermudaFestival.

Alternatively, you can post photos or video directly to the Bermuda Festival’s pages at: www.facebook.com/BermudaFestival; twitter.com/bdafestival; instagram.com/bermudafestival.