ten-day visit.

The Clifton High School Chamber Choir have a full programme of events, the highlights of which include a Gala Concert at the Bermuda National Gallery, as well as participating in the Youth to Youth Concert which takes place in Victoria Park on Sunday.

Further peformances will be given at St. Theresa's Cathedral, St. John's Church, St. Peter's Church, Bermuda High School for Girls, and a recital at The English Speaking Union.

On Saturday, they will be given a tour and refreshments at Government House, where they will then give a short, informal concert.

Clifton High School, situated close to the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, is one of the largest independent day and boarding schools in the UK, and dates from 1877, when Clifton was a village close by the city of Bristol. In the school's early days, there were just 67 pupils -- today there are 752.

The Choir, which consists of 30 girls aged 14 to 18, is under the direction of Mr. Jonathan Palmer, the school's director of music. He heads a large music department, with two full-time staff and over 20 visiting instrumental teachers. In addition to four choirs, the school also boasts two wind bands, a string orchestra and various chamber groups.

Mr.

Palmer, who taught for a time at St. George's Secondary School and was organist and choir master at St. Theresa's Cathedral, says that the Chamber Choir is rather unusual in that there are sub-groups within the main choir, including a vocal quartet which specialises in Gershwin songs sung in close harmony. These will be included in their concerts.

Their repertoire includes a wide variety of music, ranging from sacred songs, madrigals, folk songs, the vocal quartet and popular songs from Broadway, as well as the Beatles, Lionel Ritchie and The Carpenters.

Mr. Palmer says he believes that cultural exchanges between young people is very important in helping greater understanding between countries. The girls will be staying with host families.

It will not be "all work and no play'', in spite of the heavy schedule of performances. "The girls and their host families will be taken on a two-hour cruise on the Coral Sea . I suppose you could say they will be singing for their supper at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, as they are being entertained to dinner there, and will give a special presentation afterwards,'' laughs Mr.

Palmer.

The choir's first public appearance is on Saturday, October 21, when they sing Mass at St. Theresa's at 6.30 p.m. On Sunday, October 22, they will be in attendance at the Sung Eucharist at St. John's Church, Pembroke at 9.30 a.m., followed by Matins at the Anglican Cathedral at 11 a.m.

At 5 p.m. on Sunday, they take part in the Youth to Youth Concert in the Park which commences at 5 p.m. The choir will give a recital at the English Speaking Union on Tuesday, October 24 at 3 p.m., with a concert at St. Peter's Church in St. George's on Wednesday, October 25 at 8 p.m. Their Gala Concert at the Bermuda National Gallery takes place on Thursday, October 26 at 8 p.m.