THE Bermuda Philharmonic Society has rebounded after a number of difficulties forced the 40-year-old organisation to take an eight-month hiatus.

The Society disbanded in February, telling members that its executive committee had voluntarily resigned and that "it was not possible to elect another group of people to carry on the work for a variety of reasons".

Problems cited included a lack of volunteers, music librarian and membership secretary.

The group's auditor had raised concerns about its financial status a month earlier, then telling members that the books were in a weak financial state.

Sources blamed the group's former music director Gary Burgess for the problems, saying he had practically "driven it into bankruptcy".

However, such rumours were quashed yesterday by Society member Shari Poe, who insisted several combined factors led to the organisation's disruption.

"I don't think anyone can be blamed for the situation," she said. "Things got into disarray. We didn't have a codified concert schedule and so it was difficult to raise money from sponsors because we didn't have a calendar to follow to tell them what we would be doing.

"We had members who were not showing up for rehearsals for the first concert of the season and it was a new piece of music. Gary postponed and it threw the season into a big question mark. There was just a lot of confusion.

"Everybody had their own idea about how things should be run. A lot of people walked. There was no impetus and enthusiasm and so we decided to reorganise at the executive level."

Mr. Burgess resigned from the Philharmonic in February. This week it announced a new board, with United Bermuda Party chairperson Gwyneth Rawlins as president

"We decided to reorganise at the executive level," explained Ms Poe, "to look at funding options, the whole picture ? and that's what we did. We got input from everybody. We renewed interest. Orchestra members and new players turned out and we formed a new executive."

The group decided to secure a guest conductor for the immediate future and plans to hold its first concert next year. Choir rehearsals begin next month, an orchestra schedule will soon be released.

"We are planning an exciting concert for the early spring of 2007 under the direction of Major Kenneth Dill," said Ms Rawlins. "Major Dill brings not only extensive directing experience to the Society but also an infectious level of enthusiasm and energy and that enthusiasm and energy are matched by the new membership of the executive.

"We encourage all the past orchestra members to pick up their instruments, dust them off and come out and make beautiful music with the Philharmonic once again. We also encourage all past vocal musicians to join the orchestra and help to make the Philharmonic a major provider of music in Bermuda."

Ms Poe said the Society was now financially stronger, insisting it had no need for additional sponsorship in order to hold its next concert.

"We've always had some really strong sponsors and we do have membership dues," she explained. "All the money that is paid goes into a bank account.

"We could probably fund a concert with the money we're getting in. The main thing about the concert was that we didn't want people getting out of habit with our Monday chorus meetings and Thursday orchestra meetings."

She said the chorus generally consisted of between 40 and 60 members while the orchestra was composed of "maybe 30". Their numbers are supported by a host of members who don't perform.

"We just started a membership drive and we hope to increase our membership up to 100 in the next few weeks," she added.

Choir rehearsals will be held every Monday, beginning on October 9, at 7.30 p.m. in the Cathedral Hall.

During business hours, anyone interested in joining the orchestra or the chorus may contact Ms Rawlins on 298-0893, Ms Poe on 293-5980 or Jane Lee on 205-1422.