Internationally known Bermudian tenor Gary Burgess is glad to be home and is willing to help any cultural organisation he can.

The new programme coordinator at the Department of Cultural Affairs will be taking up his new post on October 1 and has no misgivings about working a step below the position he applied for last year.

"I've met Heather Wilson, we have talked and I like her so I am sure we will get along,'' Mr. Burgess said of the Cultural Affairs officer and future boss.

In March 1997 Mr. Burgess was not on the short list for the post -- a move that shocked his supporters, but a Government spokesman said that an applicant from within in the public service is considered before one from outside Government.

"She is the director of the department and I will coordinate all the programmes through her and maybe start new ones,'' he said. "I have great respect for Ruth Thomas and Ann Francis and what they did. I'll just try to follow in their footsteps.'' Mr. Burgess will also finish working at the end of this month for the State University of New York at Buffalo after 24 years there.

He will, however, return to grade students with whom he has had strong ties over the years.

He said the new job will be familiar as he has had similar positions during his academic career.

Mr. Burgess -- a doctor of Musical Arts -- said he wanted to serve everyone and not one particular segment of the community.

But he has strong opinions on what is cultural, saying: "All over the world you need a balance. Kids do not listen to classical music unless they have been exposed to it. There has to be some appreciation of the arts.'' Mr. Burgess explained that with the founding of the new Anglican Boys Choir his intention was not to only teach them to sing but to "expose them to the wider world''.

"To some its not our culture, but rap is not our culture,'' Mr. Burgess added.

He said that he will coordinate not only vocal arts, but music, dance, and the visual arts events and organisations.

He added: "There are wonderful dance programmes here and its obvious the visual arts are thriving. I certainly want to work with the Bermuda Festival.'' "Wherever I can help, I will. And if I have not, they can call me!'' he added.

Called Bermuda's most renowned cultural export and considered a major star in music and art circles, Mr. Burgess is nonchalant about his career.

He has won the prestigious Prix de Claude Debussy in Paris in 1984 for a performance of French melodie, and a Bermuda Life Time Achievement Award in 1996 from the culture ministry.

In addition to SUNY Buffalo, Mr. Burgess has taught at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and Curtis in Philadelphia and Juilliard School.

As an opera singer he has sung major roles at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and for more than a decade was principal guest artist at the Greek National Opera.

When asked about calls for a cultural centre, Mr. Burgess said: "I am in favour of better venues for cultural productions.'' He said that while there is the City Hall theatre and the new theatre at CedarBridge Academy, an acoustically sound hall will help the arts blossom in the Island.

He added: "Yes, it needs to be supported and it needs to be bigger than City Hall. We always rely on churches, but a church is for worship.''