The resilience of Bermuda’s National Heroes was celebrated at the Premier’s Concert last night.

David Burt welcomed a host of local performing artists who paid tribute to the eight heroes during an evening of entertainment at the Earl Cameron Theatre at City Hall.

The event, hosted by the Department of Culture, carried the theme “Celebrating Our National Heroes” for a second year.

The Premier said: “These heroes embody the resilient Bermudian spirit, and their profound commitment to justice, equality and social, political and economic development has left an indelible mark on our society.

“They have exemplified the highest ideals of what it means to be Bermudian and paved the way for a brighter future for all of us.

“This evening’s performances will not only allow us to honour Bermuda’s National Heroes but also experience the immense talent of our people.

“We will see outstanding local artists and creatives who are recipients of grants from the Bermuda Arts Council utilise their skills to pay tribute to these giants of Bermudian history.“

The line-up of musical performances included tributes to: Sir Henry James Tucker by the Bermuda Philharmonic Society, Dame Lois Browne-Evans by Shayla Gift, Gladys Misick Morrell by Hana Bushara, Sir John Swan by The Royal Bermuda Regiment Band, and Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon by Dakari Love.

There were also film tributes to: Sir Edward Richards by Janita Burke and Abimbola Bademosi, Mary Prince by Stephan Johnstone and Marq Rodriguez, and Pauulu Kamarakafego by Layla Williams.

Owen Darrell, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, added: “I want to thank everyone for joining us to celebrate the incredible talent of our Bermudian artists.

“The Premier's Concert has been a longstanding tradition celebrating Bermudian creativity and culture. It has been a privilege to witness the diversity and excellence of our performers and visual artists, and recognise their invaluable contributions to our culture. It has been a pleasure to have all of you here to be a part of this special night.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport, I can say with confidence that we look forward to continuing supporting our Bermudian creatives in the years to come by, giving them a platform to showcase their work.”

The Premier’s Concert was introduced in December 1985 by the Cultural Affairs Officer Ruth Thomas and it continues to be a significant event in Bermuda’s artistic community.

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