Whenever Wayne Marshall appeared here, be it on a Bermuda Festival stage or elsewhere, he was a favourite who consistently played to full houses. While many artists whose names can no longer be recalled have come and gone over the years, this dynamic Briton has never been forgotten. The combination of virtuoso performer and charming personality endeared him to all. Indeed, the size of last Sunday evening's audience at St. Theresa's Cathedral for his inaugural recital on the new organ proved once more that the Marshall magic had lost none of its potency at the box office.

But what has this internationally known organ recitalist, pianist and recording artist, whose other musical activities include improvisation, conducting, jazz and composition, been up to since last he graced our shores in 1996?

The answer is a great deal.

With his star very much on the ascent back in 1996, Mr. Marshall has since gone on to become a busy and sought-after performer who travels extensively to fulfil engagements in many countries, principally in Britain and Europe.

Five years ago, when Manchester's beautiful new Bridgewater Hall opened, he was appointed organist-in-residence - a position he continues to hold - and where he gave the inaugural recital on its magnificent Marcussen organ. The hall is state of the art, and Mr. Marshall's appointment is a prestigious one, which gives an indication of his importance in the field of recital organists. In fact, when he performed Jongen's 'Sinfonie Concertante' with the Hall? Orchestra and Daniel Harding, it was before a capacity audience of 2,400.

As well as being organist-in-residence at Bridgewater, Mr. Marshall also consults on programming, appears with orchestras both as solo organist and pianist, and in duo recitals with regular partners. He is also a symphonic conductor with the Hall? and BBC Philharmonic orchestras, and is closely involved with the Hall's audience development, education and outreach programmes.

Highlights of his career to date include being featured as both solo organist and pianist in the legendary final night of London's popular Promenade concerts (Proms) in 1998. In the same year he was named 'Artist of the Year' by BBC Music Magazine, and also made his debut as a conductor at the Proms.

In Italy, he conducted the youth orchestra in Milan's famed La Scala opera house in the final performance before it closed for renovations.

In Germany, he will be conducting another youth orchestra in a programme of American music in Dresden, and next year he conducts 'West Side Story' at the Bregenz Festival.

In Paris, the hallowed walls of Notre Dame Cathedral have also echoed to his organ music, and he is due to give another recital there next month.

"You have to to be invited to perform at Notre Dame, so it is an honour, but also a bit of a problem because you have only 45 minutes to make an impression," the artist says.

"A lot of organists choose pieces that would normally be played in a silent church, but when you have tourists tramping around anything less than forte is a waste of time, so you have to play big and loud."

Which is what he also did at Sunday's highly successful recital at St. Theresa's Cathedral, during some of what he called "some really good, technically stretching music" from his vast repertoire, of which 19th and 20th century music are particular favourites.

Mr. Marshall has also made many recordings with EMI, Virgin and Phillips Classics record labels, some of which have won awards. His many releases include the prize-winning 'Gershwin Songbook' CD, as well as 'I Got Rhythm' and 'Rhapsody in Blue', and the original soundtrack version of that composer's 'Second Rhapsody' with John Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. There have been solo albums of virtuosic organ music, and an organ/trumpet duo recorded with Ole Edvard Antonson, with whom he also performed in a Bermuda Festival concert at St. Paul's Church, Paget.

Concert engagements mean that Mr. Marshall will be constantly on the move for the next few months, and then he will prepare for perhaps the greatest debut of his life: that of a husband.

Sorry girls, but the attractive bachelor has lost his heart to a delightful Englishwoman named Ann - thanks in part to his close friend and former Royal College of Music fellow student, Bermudian Adrian Ridgeway.

Five months ago the two men were driving to Manchester, where Mr. Marshall had an important meeting. On the way Mr. Ridgeway insisted that they stop for a meal. With great reluctance his friend agreed, and after getting lost, they chose a restaurant on a whim.

"It was as if a force pulled me," the artist now says.

As luck would have it, the restaurant had a piano, and of course Mr. Marshall could not resist. Eventually two women came in and sat near them, one of whom Mr. Marshall particularly noticed. The foursome began chatting, and Mr. Ridgeway said casually, 'Wayne plays the piano'.

Now, most women hear a variety of chat-up lines in their lifetime, so their scepticism was understandable.

Bride-to-be Ann takes up the story.

"To be honest, I assumed he was in a band or something. We didn't know Wayne's background at all, we were thinking he was an ordinary type of guy. Well, you don't think you're going to bump into a concert artist in a little restaurant, do you? So I said, 'If you can play, would you play 'The Lonely Goatherd' (from The Sound of Music). Of course, it was wonderful, and a whole slew of requests then followed.'

By the time the fun-filled jazzy evening was over, telephone numbers had been exchanged, and Mr. Marshall resolved to call the lady whom he discovered sang in a choir. The foursome duly agreed to meet up again the following weekend and, in the betrothed's words, "That was it".

The couple live in Leamington Spa, where Ann owns an employment agency, and they will be married in the parish church in September. Naturally, Mr. Marshall is in charge of choosing the music for their special day.

"I have played at so many weddings that at my own I want to have the best, so 'The Sixteen,' a very famous professional choir, will perform at the service, and I will be playing as well, and at the reception there will be a blues band," he says.

Of course, Mr. Ridgeway will be among the guests, as will another close friend and popular Bermuda Festival artist with whom Mr. Marshall appeared here: pianist Mladen Janjanin.

"He is now assistant dean of the Zagreb Academy of Music, and also assistant to the President of the Croatian Society of Musicians, and doing very well," the artist says.

Meanwhile, the soon-to-be Mrs. Marshall is being introduced to the world of the concert artist, and travels with her fianc? whenever business permits.

"I have only known Wayne for five months, and already he has taken me to all of these places," she marvels. "In fact, our first date was in Milan, to see him conduct at La Scala."

A delayed honeymoon to visit Mr. Marshall's family roots in Barbados is planned for next year.

As for future appearances here, the multi-talented artist says he would "love to come back and take part in a Bermuda Festival", and one day perhaps fulfil Mr. Ridgeway's dream: to play what his friend describes as "the ultimate pipe organ" if ever he designs and builds it.