When the Bermuda Chamber Choir presents ?The Magnificent and Mysterious? at St. John?s church, Pembroke on Tuesday, November 28, it will be with organist, composer, voice and piano teacher Ryan Ellis as its new conductor.

Mr. Ellis is from the US, where he trained in Louisiana and Boston. He teaches voice and piano at the Bermuda School of Music, and is also the organist at St. Anthony?s church. His specialty is directing choirs. For his debut programme of choral masterworks, he has chosen Bach?s cantata, ?Savour of the Gentiles?, written for the first Sunday in advent; Haydn?s ?Mass for St. Nicholas?, to be sung in Latin and featuring four soloists and chorus; and Vaughn Williams? ?Fantasia on Christmas Carols? featuring Peter Nash as the baritone soloist. ?The Fantasia is typical Vaughn Williams ? beautiful, lyrical writing for the voice and strings,? Mr. Ellis says. ?The final text is ?Wishing you a happy, happy New Year both now and forever more?. The composer has done such a beautiful job setting up a tone of eternity with the (strength and emphasis) on the last two words.?

Other soloists in the programme, designed to reflect the coming seasons of Advent and Christmas, are: Ruth Stovell, Selange Gitschner, Emma Muggleton, and Gordon Campbell. Joining them from the US will guest soloist, tenor Jason McStoots.

Mr. McStoots is an accomplished recitalist who has performed a number of world-premi?re works. He is a sought-after ensemble artist, and a founder-member of Exsultemus Period Vocal Ensemble. Described by critics as ?particularly outstanding? with ?a perfect light-opera voice?, he is also a soloist who has appeared with various US groups, and is currently on the faculty of The Walnut Hill School and the Boston Conservatory, as well as being the artistic director of Rehearsal Arts and their SingleP choral learning method.