?Bigger and better than ever? is a favourite claim of promoters hyping an event which, in reality, sometimes fails to deliver as promised.

The same cannot be said of the Bermuda Classical Guitar Festival which, from very modest beginnings three years ago, has now grown to such an extent that this year it will extend over five days and feature a larger and wider variety of visiting artists, exotic instruments and original music.

For all that, however, the man who has nurtured his dream of an annual guitar festival from the very beginning, professional guitar tutor Stephen Crawford, says that it is still his aim to preserve the original intimacy, which is part of the reason why all but one of the concerts will be held at St. Andrew?s church.

?The aim is to keep the Festival compact and friendly, and at the same time try to change things each year to keep it fresh,? said Mr. Crawford.

Describing the Festival as ?the most eclectic concert series to date,? Mr. Crawford says it will feature solo performers, duos and large ensembles playing music from classical to country, rhythm ?n? blues, South American and World music.

Participating artists will be a mixture of Bermuda residents, Bermuda School of Music guitar instructors, and those from abroad, some of whom will be back by popular request.

New this year will be the classical guitar duo, Newman and Ottman, whose programme will include works by Piazzolla, Vamos, Machado and Albeniz, as well as three pieces receiving their Bermuda premi?re, including ?No Feathers on this Frog?, ?Nocturne-Fantasy, Opus 69? and two works by Randall Avers.

Recognised as one of America?s foremost instrumental ensembles, Newman and Oltman have toured extensively over 20 years, and collaborated with a diverse range of renowned artists ranging from opera singers to instrumentalists. They have 10 critically-acclaimed recordings to their credit, and are founders and artistic directors of music festivals and guitar seminars.

Michael Chapdeline is another newcomer to the Guitar Festival stage. Classically trained, he has widened his repertoire to include everything from Bach to Motown, which he will perform on both steel string and classical guitars.

Mr. Chapdeline is the only guitarist ever to win first prize in the world?s top competitions in both classical and fingerstyle genres. An international performer, he consistently dazzles critics and listeners alike with his amazing technique, versatility and soulful expressiveness.

He is professor of music and head of guitar studies at the University of New Mexico, and is also a recording artist who numbers the late, great Andres Segovia among his teachers.

Also back by popular demand are Mathew Joseph and Friends.

For Indian-born Dr. Joseph, a surgical officer at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, this Festival will be extra-special because it will unite him both as a friend and fellow musician with renowned multi-instrumentalist and recording artist Oliver Rajamani, whom he first met many years ago in India when they both played in the same band. It took another 20 years before the two met up again in Austin, Texas, since which time Dr. Joseph has worked assiduously to bring his busy friend to Bermuda.

?It will be the first time we have played together in 20 years,? he says. ?Oliver is an astonishing musician and a truly amazing performer who plays nearly 20 different instruments including tablas (Indian hand drums, which are the most complex ever made because you get nearly 12 separate musical notes within one little drum); sarod (a mini sitar used in Indian classical and Middle Eastern music); oudh (an Arabic instrument which is the precursor of the guitar); and rabab (an Afghani folk instrument). He is also a terrific flamenco guitarist.?

Mr Rajamani is also a singer whose vocals Dr. Joseph describes as ?raw, searing, and reminiscent of the late sufi maestro Fateh Ali Khan?.

A professional teacher of exotic instruments, he includes inmates in juvenile delinquent centres and prisons among his students in Arizona, where he makes his home.

Also joining Dr. Joseph?s group is guitarist Dave Estes who also plays the kahon and sings. Like Mr. Rajamani, he first met Dr. Joseph in India, and is making a return appearance here by popular demand, having dazzled audiences at last year?s Festival with his artistry.

Dr. Joseph, born in south-west India, first began playing the guitar and writing songs as a teenager. Today a talented multi-instrumentalist and singer who blends Tamil folk music with flamenco, he is well known in World music circles, and has released two albums.

Bobby Smith (bass and vocals), and Bermudian singer/songwriter Joy Barnum (another popular repeat artist) complete the Mathew Joseph and Friends line-up.

Their programme will include works from their critically acclaimed 2004 album, ?Firefly? and their upcoming album, as well as original music by Rajamani, and reggae classics by David Estes.

Patrons should note that this is the only concert in this year?s Classic Guitar Festival to be held at City Hall theatre due to space limitations at St. Andrew?s. Last but by no means least, two fine classical guitar tutors from the Bermuda School of Music, Mr. Crawford and Louise Southwood, will give solo performances during a free lunchtime concert on May 25.

Mr. Crawford?s programme will include works by Andrew York (who performed at last year?s Festival), Rodrigo and Albeniz, while Miss Southwood will perform the ?Sakura Variations? by Japanese composer Yuquijiro Yocoh; ?Asturias Leyenda? from Albeniz? ?Suite Espa?ola?, as well as works by Narvaez and Cuban composer Leo Brouwer.

Miss Southwood?s first-ever album, ?Emergence?, containing a mixture of works for solo classical guitar which illustrate her diverse instrumental techniques and musical interests, will make its sales debut at this concert.

?The repertoire on it includes works by Bach, Dowland, a Turkish piece by Carlo Domeniconi, ?Sunburst?, composed by Andrew York for last year?s Festival, Albeniz? ?Majorca?, a Venezuelan Suite, and traditional Japanese variations,? Miss Southwood said.

Clearly excited by the fulfilment of her childhood dream, the classical guitar teacher confesses recording the album was ?far more difficult than I thought it would be, but I feel I have learned a lot from it, and I definitely want to record another one in the future.?

Paris-born Miss Southwood began studying with eminent guitarist Carlos Bonnell at age 12. Graduating from London?s Royal College of Music with a Bachelor of Music (honours) degree, she travelled extensively throughout Australia before forming an acclaimed guitar/flute duo in London with Daniel Chandler.

Scottish-born Mr. Crawford began playing guitar at age 15 and was in a rock band before studying with James Pollard, who remains a profound musical influence.

Well-known in local musical circles, he plays with ?Tooz Company?, and has given concerts in England and Scotland as well as here, and was a guest artist in the 2002 Bermuda Festival.

He is a licentitate of the Royal Schools of Music, and has performed in each of the Classic Guitar Festivals.

In addition to the public concerts, the visiting musicians will also conduct master classes, workshops and seminars while here.

If possible, private lessons will also be fitted into their schedule for some guitar students.

Clearly pleased with the way the Festival has grown, Mr. Crawford notes that, unlike guitar festivals elsewhere, Bermuda?s is unique in that the artists also get to mingle and socialise post-concerts with their audiences.

?I feel it is a real Bermuda festival ? the hospitality, the friendliness, and the fact that everybody is as important as everybody else,? he says.

Summing up this year?s Classic Guitar Festival, Mr. Crawford says: ?It is something for the whole community to see what we can aspire to.

?The visiting artists are known around the world, and we want to show Bermuda what the guitar and fine musicians can do, and hopefully inspire young players in particular to strive for more. Many of the students have never heard a solo classical guitar piece before.

?In fact, I feel the Festival is a huge educational experience for everyone involved, from the teacher who knows quite a bit to the student who wants to see him or herself get involved.?

As an added bonus, he reveals that a company has agreed to underwrite the cost of bringing in printed guitar music to be distributed to students of the instrument.