The sound of brass has proved to be a perennial favourite with Bermuda Festival audiences, and tonight marks the return of the legendary Empire Brass Quintet with its long-standing Bermudian member, tuba player Kenneth Amis.

The Quintet will play two different programmes. Tonight is in a lighter vein, incorporating a mix of music by such composers as Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, de Falla, Mozart, Gerschwin, Duke Ellington amd Aaron Copland. Tomorrow's programme will be more classically oriented, and include works by Bach, Pachelbel, Telemann, Albinoni, Handel, Purcell and others.

As an added highlight, the Bermuda Festival commissioned Mr. Amis to compose a special piece in honour of Bermuda's 400th anniversary. Entitled 'The Scent of Paradise', it will receive its world première in Bermuda.

Empire Brass enjoys an international reputation as America's finest brass quintet, renowned for its brilliant virtuosity, and the unparalleled diversity of its repertoire, which ranges from Bach and Handel to jazz and Broadway.

Through its best-selling recordings, the Quintet has introduced the excitement of brass music to international audiences.

In addition to Mr. Amis, fellow members of the quintet are: Mark Hetzler (trombone), Greg Miller (French horn), Marc Brian Reese (trumpet) and Rolf Smedvig (trumpet).

Mr. Amis has served on the faculties of several universities, and currently holds the International Brass chair at London's Royal Academy of Music.

Mr. Hetzler has performed with many world-famous ensembles, and in 1992 recorded the music of Sibelius with Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Miller has been associated with Empire Brass for 20 years, performing to critical acclaim. He is equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician and symphonic horn player. He appeared as a soloist on the Grammy-nominated recording, 'Tangazo' on the Argo Decca label.

He has recorded and toured extensively with Epic Brass, and is a founding member of the New World Brass. He has performed for Prince Albert of Monaco and former US President Clinton.

As a chamber musician, Mr. Reese tours extensively, and holds a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory. He has performed frequently with the Boston Symphony, and is on the artist faculty of Lynn University's Conservatory of Music.

Rolf Smedvig is one of the world's best trumpeters, and a dazzling virtuoso who is acknowledged as a soloist and chamber musician of international renown. He first performed with the Seattle Symphony at the age of 13.

Both performances take place at City Hall theatre, with a curtain time of 8 p.m.

For tickets/further information visit website www.bermudafestival.org