the director and his teacher wife had not had their contracts renewed.

They heard the news from several sources, they said, although the school's Board of Trustees had not issued any official confirmation to them.

Board chairman Mr. Austin Thomas refused to comment on the situation when contacted, saying it was an "internal matter''.

Briton Mr. Graham Garton, who teaches several instruments, and his wife Barbara, who teaches voice to such local professionals as Ms Pinky Steede, have worked at Dunbarton for five years.

The Bermuda Philharmonic Society and Geoffrey Tankard Foundation Chamber Choir also stand to lose as Mr. Garton is the conductor and director of both.

The Gartons also refused to comment on their situation when contacted last night.

But voice student Mr. Peter Nash said: "What is certain is Mr. Garton's contract is not being renewed.'' And if he and his wife were to leave the Island, there would be "serious ramifications'' not only for Dunbarton, but the Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir and Geoffrey Tankard Choir.

Mr. Nash said he would suffer personally, because there was no one else on the Island who taught singing at his level.

Ms Steede said she was "devastated'' to hear the couple "had been given notice to leave''.

"It's like having the old umbilical cord torn away,'' she said. "As a professional singer I depended on Mrs. Garton's vocal comfort. The ease she gave me helped me sustain weeks of flat out singing.'' Ms Steede added she thought she had "died and gone to heaven'' when she returned to the Island last year to find a couple of the Garton's calibre teaching locally.

"I am hoping desperately something can be done to keep them,'' she said.