Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts this weekend.

Composer Piotr Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto, Piano Concerto Number One in B-Flat Minor, will be featured, as will The Dawn of a New Day, the first full symphony composed by Gary Burgess, music director for the Philharmonic.

Dawn, a spring concert, will see guest artist, pianist, Karol Sue Reddington join the orchestra to present Tchaikovsky's composition. Orchestra and chorus will both perform Dr. Burgess' symphony, based on a work by Bermudian poet, Shangri-La Durham Thompson.

"This composition was (Tchaikovsky's) first foray into this musical form and, despite early criticism, it has become one of the world's best-loved pieces of piano music,'' said Philharmonic spokesperson, Sue Johnston. "The work demands the utmost from both piano and pianist. It is a dialogue between soloist and orchestra, who must constantly listen to one another and who seem to comment on each other's expression. Since its premiere, more than 125 years ago, its folk-influenced melodies, rhythmic vigour and dazzling piano and orchestral writing have contributed to its widespread popularity.'' She added: "(Dr. Burgess') exciting composition was commissioned by Bermuda's Millennium Committee. Dawn of a New Day is an expression of hope for Bermuda's future. It is descriptive and, at times, dramatic, and the music always tries to enhance the poetry. It is a tonal piece, with intervals of atonal activity, highlighting the discord one feels when one is troubled and the concord that comes when one finds peace of mind and soul. Members of the world-famous Morgan State University Choir from Baltimore, Maryland will be joining our chorus in presenting this new and exciting work. Soloists include singers from Prague, Puerto Rico and the US, reminding us of words from the poem, The Dawn of a New Day: `Diverse people come together...meet the obstacles ahead with open eyes, with open minds, with open hearts.'' Well known to local audiences as a pianist, harpsichordist, organist and teacher, Dr. Reddington received her doctorate in Piano Performance, Literature and Therapy at the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. She has performed in Hong Kong, Prague, Reykjavik, Paris and numerous venues in the United States and has taught in several universities in the US and Hong Kong and served on regional and state music boards.

As Artist Events Chair and faculty member at the Bermuda School of Music, she has been instrumental in bringing international performers and new music to the Island to inspire students and expand their musical horizons as well as to entertain audiences who love classical music.

Said Dr. Reddington: "Two huge works are being performed. It's absolutely wonderful. I first discussed doing a concerto with Dr. Burgess and the Philharmonic last year. We discussed several options but chose Tchaikovsky. It was a work that I had not done before and was wonderful, one of the most incredible works in concerto literal and we decided it would be a wonderful thing to do.

"Two reasons why I picked this concerto were because the instrument's resources are endless melodies themselves and...I'd done a lot of performing and a lot of 20th century music. But it's fun for me to also get totally absorbed in an old piece, a romantic piece. And always, when I'm playing with an orchestra, it's a wonderful opportunity musically. Then, you're sharing in a way that you do not have the opportunity to do in a smaller, or solo work.'' To prepare, Dr. Reddington said that she literally had to cut out the demands of her daily work schedule.

"I teach approximately 40 hours a week of piano to students at the Bermuda School of Music and, as Artist Events Chair, I also plan music events for the school so there was no time to fit in the necessary practice. So I took time off the Island last summer and spent eight hours a day -- in July and August -- in an apartment in New York City. It's one of the world's most dearly loved works and (studying it) is such a monumental task. The logistics are that it takes countless hours of practise.

"(The composition), the piece of music is lush. It brings a feel of deep, brown velvet in its orchestration. The resources of sound are some of the largest in any orchestral fabric and they require great ability from orchestral members. (It) utilizes the acoustical fabric of the piano to its highest level and fortunately, the instrument at Ruth Seaton James is one of the finest instruments I've played throughout the entire world.

"Technically, emotionally and intellectually -- anything you wish the piano to do it will. Having sat in front of many PSO's, what I call piano shaped objects, I can tell the difference. It's one of the most incredible I've had the opportunity to work with. As pianists it would be wonderful if we could take our own instruments along with us, but we can't.'' The Morgan State University Choir is one of America's most prestigious university choral ensembles. Its repertoire spans several centuries and includes classical, gospel, and contemporary popular music. Performance highlights include concerts at the White House and tours of South Africa at Bishop Desmond Tutu's request.

The choir's director, Nathan Carter, is Chair of the Department of Fine Arts and Director of the Performing Arts Series at Morgan State. He is a graduate of the Hampton Institute, the Julliard School of Music and the Peabody Conservatory of Music. His many citations and honours include the National Association of Negro Musicians' Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contribution as a performer of works by black composers as well as being named Conductor of the Year in 1994 by the Jentry McDonald Corporation.

Creators of the choral symphony, Dr. Burgess and Mrs. Durham Thompson, have been involved in the arts for most of their lives.

Dr. Burgess has been a professional musician for close to 40 years, having performed as an opera singer in most of the major opera houses in the world.

He has earned degrees and awards from several institutions including Wilberforce University, the Julliard School of Music, Academia di Santa Cecelia and Indiana University.

The director of the Philharmonic was a professor of Voice and Opera at the State University of New York at Buffalo for 23 years where he is now professor emeritus. In 1985 he founded the Greater Buffalo Opera Company and, as artistic director, staged and conducted most of the traditional repertoire. In addition to his classical career, he conducted Broadway musicals in summer stock at Cape Cod. Since returning to Bermuda in 1998, he has been programme co-ordinator with the Department of Cultural Affairs.

Mrs. Durham Thompson has written numerous plays and has published a book of plays and poems, Battle for Freedom. In 1994, Premier the Hon. Jennifer Smith, invited her to write The Dawn of a New Day, now dedicated to the Premier, the Government and the people of Bermuda.

Like Dr. Burgess, Mrs. Durham Thompson has received degrees from a host of institutions including A&T State University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Miami University.

Said Ms Johnston: "The Bermuda Philharmonic Society is committed to making great music. It is made up of professional musicians, dedicated amateurs and accomplished students from across our community. Its concerts offer people from all walks of life the chance to be part of a live musical creation that engages all the senses. Even if your taste runs more to Marley, Mingus or Metallica than to Mozart, there is an undeniable thrill that comes from hearing and feeling the amazing sound of a full orchestra and large chorus performing great musical works.'' Dawn, a spring concert, will be held 8 p.m. on Saturday at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets, at $25, are available at the Harbourmaster, Opus Encore and BMDS's Daylesford Theatre between noon and 2 p.m.

THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY A POEM BY SHANGRI-LA DURHAM THOMPSON The Dawn of a New Day A poem by Shangri-La Durham Thompson In the midnight of our lives When darkness Like a pervasive covering Blanketed our minds Bermuda really was another world Paradise for those selected Hell perhaps for those neglected And those who toiled Became dejected by life's view And the darkness whispered Ensuring division And the people without vision Closed their eyes They closed their hearts They closed their minds In the midnight of our lives When darkness Like a thief Stole history And dismissed those lacking knowledge of their great past Who gratefully accepted snapshots From the albums of their lives Pictures the darkness selected for them to see Juan de Bermudez Sir George Somers Benign slavery Bedevilled isles And because all history had no validity Many stumbled in the darkness For they could not see their way And others waited patiently for deliverance Then the twilight came And without choice the darkness lifted Revealing problems stemming from a neglected past Divided people with no solutions An island stinking in pollution Hearts needing restitution But hope...

Not in vain Twilight offers a new beginning The only concrete chance of winning the battle That could destroy our island home Twilight with tears upon the dawning Oft mistaken as the morning dew Releases the fragrance of flowers in the air Produces gently ocean breezes Filters the now clear crystal waters Acknowledges our past Dispels the myths Inspires dreams Twilight admits the road's not easy So with God rise to greet the dawn Then solicits from the rays of breaking day From your horizon stretch and guide them For there is much that they must do Acknowledge God Respect themselves And others too Be encouraged,says the twilight Free yourselves from darkness past Diverse people come together in light of day Transformed by twilight's cleansing teardrops Meet the obstacles ahead With the obstacles ahead With open eyes With open minds And open hearts Today beside the waters Twilight bids us greet the dawn And we offer thanks to God for this new day A chance to work as one A chance to enjoy the banquet feast prepared And we're reminded by the twilight That when darkness comes it will not last If we erect monuments To ensure We never Forget Our past Rejoice Bermuda In a new Beginning Rejoice in the dawn of a new day Big show: Composer Gary Burgess.

Performance: Karol Sue Reddington will be tinkling the ivories.