Officially, they are Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble (BNYJE), but following their appearances in the Sir George Somers' festivities in Lyme Regis, Dorset, England in the coming week, they will doubtless be remembered as "The Talented Ambassadors'' from Britain's oldest colony.

Twenty-two young people, under the direction of well-known Bermudian musician, Mr. Wendell (Shine) Hayward, are heading for the coastal town that is twinned with St. George's at the specific invitation of the Corporation of St.

George's.

Together with members of Mahogany, another talented local youth band, the student musicians will give four performances during their eight-day stay, where audiences are expected to be in the hundreds.

They will have an opportunity to interact with young musicians from across Britain, and will stay with local families.

In Lyme Regis they are being joined by Hamilton and St. George's town criers, Mr. Ed Christopher and Mr. E. Michael Jones respectively, and the Mayor of St.

George's, Mrs. Lois Perinchief, who is also taking part in the festivities.

The young musicians' arrival in Britain marks the culmination of months of practice and fund-raising, and anticipation is as high as the standards the legendary Mr. Hayward has set for them.

"I feel it is a great opportunity for the guys and girls,'' Mr. Hayward says, although he confesses to being "a little bit nervous'' that the students will successfully rise to the challenge ahead.

"Our expectation for performance levels is always so far above where we really find ourselves, but on the night they always seem to come through,'' he says. "At the same time I do appreciate the talent of all of these young musicians.'' Having taught most of the youngsters at Warwick Academy, the last two as Director of Music, from which post he only recently resigned, Mr. Hayward says that as a professional musician he derives great satisfaction from directing the Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble.

"It gives me an opportunity to still being in the mix, even though I am not at the forefront,'' he says.

For their part, the young musicians are clearly dedicated to their art, and eager to please both Mr. Hayward and their audiences. While some were introduced to music lessons as early as age four, others only became involved through their school's music programmes.

Typical is Jason Iris, who first studied the string double bass. Recognised as a good reader of music by Mr. Hayward, the teenager was drafted in as a bass guitarist for the jazz ensemble because of his twin abilities.

"It opens up possibilities,'' the enthusiastic Warwick Academy student says.

"I have learned a lot more, so it helps me with reading music and different songs that I like to play -- jazz, classical, or other types.'' Noting that the string bass is played upright while the bass guitar is played sideways, Jason says that "it is good to practice both ways'', and disagrees that the bass is not a melodic instrument.

"If you practice it melodically you learn how to move around your instrument more, and that makes it easier to play,'' he assures.

Certainly, he is optimistic about the forthcoming trip to England, which is his first.

"I think it's going to be good because all of our other concerts have been well received,'' he assures.

At eleven years old, tenor saxophonist Aaron Daniels is the youngest member of the ensemble, although he has been playing the instrument since 1998. He made his debut with the group at a benefit concert in June, and proved a big hit.

Youth jazz ensemble head for England Naturally shorter than his teenaged fellow musicians, he says audiences don't bother him because the lighting at shows prevents him from seeing them, but he does find it "embarrassing'' that when the Ensemble takes its bows, he has to look up to his peers.

Aaron's introduction to music was via Suzuki piano at age 4, and there was a time when he thought he'd like to be a drummer.

"But one night I went to a concert and saw these guys playing saxophones, and I thought `That's for me','' he relates.

Claiming to practice very day for an hour, the bright youngster -- who is also a triathlete, says music is in his genes.

Confessing to some fears about the presence of skinheads with Mohican haircuts in the UK, Aaron is nonetheless looking forward to performing in Britain, as well as having some fun.

He celebrated his eleventh birthday on Monday, July 17, and says his present was the fare to Chicago, where he will compete in a triathalon in August.

Fourteen-year-old drummer Warren Simmons says his enthusiasm for percussion instruments began at age three when he banged a toy drum into oblivion, and continued with formal lessons from age four to the present day. He lists his present teacher, Kevin Maybury, as his favourite local drummer, and Elvin Jones as top of his international list. In addition to being the Ensemble's drummer, Warren plays percussion including typani at Warwick Academy, and is also taking classical piano lessons.

"I can live with everything,'' he says of his musical tastes.

Often asked how he manages the co-ordination drumming requires, he says, "it just comes naturally to me -- plus lots of practice, of course.'' Fourteen-year-old Mandela Fubler is "the piano man'' for the Ensemble, and currently studies with former Bermuda Regiment bandmaster, Mr. Kenneth Dill.

He is also a member of Mahogany, who were recently invited to play at the American Society of Travel Agents convention in Milwaukee.

"It was excellent,'' the talented keyboardist smiles."The travel agents really enjoyed it, and at the end they got up and danced.'' "Mahogany will open the first night of the 2000 Jazz Festival at Dockyard in September,'' Mr. Hayward notes proudly.

While Mandela's career path is still undetermined, he says that he will definitely keep on with his music no matter what profession he chooses.

It is a sentiment echoed by the other Ensemble members. Only Aaron says he wants to become a professional musician.

For now, however, it is enough that their talents are being showcased -- and the future of the presence of local musicians assured.

"It is a means of securing the future of the music industry, and you have to do that through the young, so I am happy with the role I play,'' Mr. Hayward says of his involvement with the BNYJE and Mahogany. "Like any teacher, you get great satisfaction seeing your students perform.'' Speaking on behalf of the Bermuda National Education Council (BNEC), Mr.

Melvin Bassett said that the BNYJE has had his organisation's full support from inception.

"Initially, the idea was to use the group to try and encourage young musicians to continue playing their instruments after they left high school and college, because many talented youngsters tended to lose interest then,'' Mr. Bassett explains.

In addition, the Council had another motive for its support.

"One of the BNEC's projects was to try and see if we might be able to reactivate the National Youth Orchestra, so myself Mr. Earl Hart threw our weight behind Mr. Hayward to get the Ensemble up and running. We hope to use this as a springboard to reactivate the NYO. We have enjoyed working with the group and Mr. Hayward. '' Financial support for the venture has been provided by the Blackie Talbot Golf Charity as well as the Bermuda Arts Council and a number of local businesses and individuals.

In addition to the students' names mentioned above, other members of the BNYJE travelling to England are: Russell Butler, Ashanthi Caesar, Aaron Edness, Melissa Fox, Bryen Hill, Paul Lennox, Andre Manders, Rebecca Pedro, Christopher Pimental, Davin Providence; Justin, Warren and Zikomo Simmons, and Jason Sukdeo.

Shine Hayward