Devotees of spirituals are in for a special treat on February 16, when visiting guest conductor Moses George Hogan will lead an entire programme devoted to this musical genre.

The American pianist, conductor and internationally renowned arranger has been invited to conduct the choral group, WORD, in a programme of his original compositions, as well as his arrangements of other spirituals.

"It will be very exciting programme. Mr. Hogan's arrangements are stimulating and unique," Lloyd Matthew, founder-director of WORD, said.

Indeed, the conductor's contemporary settings of spirituals, original compositions and other works have delighted audiences and garnered praise from critics worldwide. They have also become staples in the repertoires of high school, college, church, community and professional choirs both in the US and internationally. The featured soloists will be leading Bermudian artists Gary Burgess (tenor) and Marcelle Clamens (soprano), who will perform some of Mr. Hogan's compositions.

Louisiana-born Mr. Hogan is a graduate of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, who also studied at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music and Louisiana State University. He began exploring the choral music idiom in 1980 and later founded first the Moses Hogan Chorale and later the internationally acclaimed Moses Hogan Singers, who have made many successful albums. Other recordings of Mr. Hogan's work include 'An American Heritage of Spirituals', sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which he co-conducted.

Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Hogan edited 'The Oxford Book of Spirituals' published by Oxford University Press, and as a concert pianist he won first place in the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition in New York.

In demand internationally as an arranger, conductor and clinician, he is an exclusive arranger-composer for the Hal Leonard Music Corporation.

Tickets ($25) are available at the Adventist Book Centre on King Street, Opus Encore on Reid Street, and from members of WORD. For further information ( 236-9843.