called `Simply Strings' gives a benefit concert in aid of the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda.

Government House will provide a stylish setting for the debut of `Simply Strings', where the music of Haydn and Mozart will be played by five of the Island's professional musicians: violinists Charles Li and Kate Ross, with Daniel Leetch and Mary Longbourne playing viola and Jonathan Palmer on cello.

Mr. Palmer, currently organist and choirmaster at St. Theresa's Cathedral and spokesman for the new quintet, explains that he told Lady Waddington that they would like to give a benefit performance for the charity of her choice.

As a dedicated Honorary Chairman of the National Dance Theatre, Lady Waddington jumped at the chance to assist with their fund-raising drive, and offered Government House as the venue for the proposed concert.

Proceeds from this event will help fund a very exciting project for the dance company. Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Connie Dey, announced at the weekend that the National Dance Theatre is planning to stage a full-length version of Tchaikovsky's `The Nutcracker' for Christmas 1995.

"We are bringing in David Allan again, from the Boston Ballet, to stage the whole thing. His Act II, which formed part of the 1993 Bermuda Festival, was very successful, so we have decided to join some of the world's most prestigious dance companies by making the full ballet part of our repertoire.

The cost of bringing a top choreographer in, plus costumes, sets and lighting and so on, will cost far more than we could possibly hope to recoup from ticket sales, especially as we want to keep prices reasonable so that as many children can see the ballet as possible. We are very thrilled that `Simply Strings' is going to help us in this way,'' she says.

For the members of the quintet, who all teach music, the opportunity to play chamber music together is irresistible. Since he came to Bermuda, for instance, Mr. Palmer is regularly to be seen (and heard) playing the double bass in major instrumental concerts around the Island. His first love, however, is the cello, which he began playing at the age of 15, and it is the cello which he will be playing in this concert. A versatile musician, he studied in Yorkshire and at Reading University, and has taught at various prestigious schools in England.

Explaining just why chamber music is so important to musicians, he says, "For the orchestral player, the chance to play in a small group, can make a welcome change. As an individual you are no longer anonymous and unable to hear yourself clearly, as so often happens when you're playing in a large orchesta.

The essence of a chamber group is the quality -- and equality -- of all the players.'' Describing Mozart's String Quintet in G minor as one of the finest, and most famous works in the chamber repertoire, he says, "The viola plays a fair share of the melodic material in this work, so it's very gratifying for a string player to be involved in music like this.'' Also on the programme will be Haydn's String Quartet No. 40 in G major, which Mr. Palmer says has "an extraordinary mix of the happy and serious, of flippancy and extreme originality. The `heart' of the work is the solemn, slow movement, but the finale is radiant, and this move from the sublime to the ridiculous reveals much about Haydn's character and love of humour.'' Violinist Charles Li, who recently joined the faculty of Dunbarton School of Music, is a native of Minnesota who obtained his Masters from Southern Illinois University. He was formerly a member of the Tellerania String Quartet which toured Panama.

Kate Ross, who teaches music at the Bermuda High School for Girls, began studying the violin at the age of seven and obtained her degree from the University of York. She came to Bermuda in 1983 to work for the Menuhin Foundation and has played with and conducted the Bermuda Philharmonic and Gilbert & Sullivan Societies.

Londoner Daniel Leetch began the violin at the age of five, studying at the Guildhall School of Music Junior Department before going on to the Royal Academy of Music. He worked professionally with orchestras and ensembles throughout Britain before coming to Bermuda with the Menuhin Foundation in 1992.

Mary Longbourne, who comes from the west of England, studied clarinet and viola and completed her musical studies in Bath. She is Director of Music at Saltus Junior School and, just this month, under her married name, was the soloist in a baroque bassoon concerto for the Saltus Concert Society.

The black-tie concert takes place at Government House on Friday, May 27 at 8 p.m. in the presence of Lord and Lady Waddington. Refreshments will be served.

Admission to this fund-raising event is $50. Due to limited seating, those wishing to attend should telephone Mrs. Louise Jackson at 292-5815 as soon as possible.

NEW QUINTET -- `Simply Strings', a new chamber group of professional musicians, makes its debut later this month at Government House. Pictured are (front row, from left) Daniel Leetch, Jonathan Palmer, Charles Li, and (back row, from left) Mary Palmer Longbourne and Kate Ross.