Bermuda's famous fishcakes, cooked by one of the Island's chefs, finally convinced a group of music students to visit the Island.

Since 1999, Eddie Ming, who teaches drum instruction and runs Tiny Tots Drum school, would send students to the New York City Harbor Conservatory for Performing Arts.

However, after Mr. Ming, who is a musician and a chef, went to New York last year to host a Bermuda Food and Drum festival, he convinced the group to visit the Island.

"I engineered a Bermuda Food and Drum festival at the conservatory last year. I served them real Bermudian dishes like fishcakes. It was very successful and it is what finally brought them down here," he said.

The 11 students, two musical directors and two chaperones have been busy on their eight-day tour of the Island playing at different venues and visiting the many tourists attractions.

They arrived on June 30, just in time to play at the US Consulate for the July 4 Celebration. They also performed at Harbour Nights where Mr. Ming and one of his students, 13-year-old Bryson Doers, joined in.

The New York City Harbor Conservatory for Performing Arts is a Latin-based, non-profit performing arts institution in Harlem, that provides students with a complete education in music, dance and theatre.

The students come from a wide range of backgrounds, making the conservatory a ground for appreciation of arts and cultural diversity.

The Bermudian students who visit the Harbor Conservatory take lessons in Conga, drumming, piano and guitar and for the 18th year, 24 of Mr. Ming's students, ranging from five years old to 57 will depart on July 27.

While here, however, the 11 students from the conservatory and the exchange programme received a certificate of acknowledgement from the Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, Wayne Perinchief.

The eight days the Harlem students were on the Island will hopefully not be the last of the exchanges as Mr. Ming.

"We are trying to make it an annual trip for the group here. They have been doing all of the touristy things and have been enjoying the lovely water and sand," he added.