Following its highly successful debut in three of last year's Bermuda Festival concerts, the popular Bermuda Festival Chamber Orchestra (BFCO) returns tonight for a one-off performance at City Hall theatre.

Founded in 2008 as part of the annual arts festival's 2009 gala celebration of Bermuda's 400th anniversary, BFCO members are drawn from a cross-section of resident musicians, many of them teachers, who welcome the opportunity to interact with fellow musicians at a non-teaching level, hone their performance skills, and master a challenging new repertoire.

Directed by Ryan Ellis, tonight's programme includes Cherubini's Overture to 'Médée'; Mozart's Symphony No. 36, K.425 (Linz); the finale of Tchaikovsky's 'Serenade for Strings, Op.48', Piazzolla's 'Oblivion for Oboe and Strings' with Andrew Knights as the visiting guest soloist; and Grieg's popular 'Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16', with Bermuda resident hOliver Grant as the soloist.

Mr. Ellis is well known on the Island as a conductor of choral and orchestral ensembles, and he played an essential role in the formation of the BFCO. He teaches voice, piano and theory at the Bermuda School of Music, and also directs its Bermuda Chamber Choir and Treble Choir.

In addition to his many other roles, Mr. Ellis is currently the organist and choirmaster at the Anglican Cathedral of Bermuda.

Prize-winning oboist Andrew Knights' busy professional career includes more than 100 appearances with his former orchestra, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, as well performances with such well-known orchestras as the Berlin Philharmonic, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the BBC Concert Orchestra. He has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in Britain and Germany, and has also performed elsewhere in Europe and South America. His solo for the late Queen Mother's 90th birthday concert was broadcast on the BBC World Service and Radio 2.

British-born pianist Oliver Grant began piano lessons at age nine at the Katarina Gurska Academy in Madrid. He holds a Fellowship in Performance from Bath Spa University, and a post-graduate diploma in Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music.

Mr. Grant has performed as a soloist with orchestras and given piano recitals in Spain, Britain and Bermuda. He teaches piano at the Bermuda School of Music; accompanies the Bermuda Chamber Choir; and is also the organist at Christ Church, Warwick.

The pianist made his Bermuda Festival debut last year playing a Mozart concerto with the Bermuda Festival Chamber Orchestra.

Charles Knights studied violin at the Royal College of Music in London, and later in Germany. He was a member of the Wurzburg Philharmonic before returning to work in London as a freelance player. As an orchestral leader his career has ranged from working with the legendary choral conductor Sir David Willcocks at London's Royal Albert Hall to leading Smokey Robinson's backing band in Bermuda.

Before joining the staff of the Menuhin Foundation in Bermuda in 2007, Mr. Knights, who is the brother of Andrew Knights, fulfilled top positions in music education in Britain, and continues to coach that country's National Children's Orchestra.

¦ Curtain time is 8 p.m. For ticket information see websites www.bermudafestival.org or www.bdatix.bm

Alternatively, telephone 232-2255, or visit BDATIX ticket centres at: the iStore, 46 Reid Street, Hamilton (open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and Fabulous Fashions, Heron Bay Plaza, Southampton (open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).