Though tradition has Count Dracula sporting an opera cape, one doesn't usually associate vampires with classical music; however, there was at least one vampire in the orchestra when the Bermuda School of Music's touring musicians joined forces with the Ann Arbor Suzuki Institute for a Halloween performance.

The October 28 performance in Ann Arbor, Michigan involved teachers narrating a Halloween story, while the young people played suitably spooky music from their repertoire to develop the atmosphere.

Seven-year-old Anya Fernandes noted, "We had a Halloween Group class. There were 200 students on stage. I liked dressing up and playing the violin. They told a story and we played our violins to tell the story. We went trick or treating. It was fun. I dressed as a vampire."

In the Spring of 2007 and again in 2008 Bermuda School of Music students participated in a magical musical pink bus tour around Bermuda, consisting of six performances in a single day. Recitals were held at local schools, nursing homes and businesses; however, the October 2008 tour was their first overseas tour. Arriving in the United States on October 27, the tour group shared their talent by visiting students from the Ann Arbor Suzuki Institute, performing with students from Slauson Middle School and also holding recitals at the Mill Pond Manor (Saline), Northside Community Church and Briarwood Mall. "We played in another school's orchestra," elaborated Charlotte Griffiths. "It was fun. Some of us played music we had never played before and other BSM students took turns conducting."

The group consisted of 20 children, ages seven to 13, many of whom have studied violin or cello since the age of four. Charlotte noted, "So many kids went, some my best friends and some new friends. All the kids were from different schools; we even had kids that were home schooled. The older ones played with the younger ones and vice versa. We became a team, an ensemble!"

The tour group's performances featured classical music favourites from the Suzuki Method, fiddle tunes such as the "Orange Blossom Special" and a Bermuda favourite, "Bermuda is Another World". Some of these works included choreography and movement, where the students would tap their bows together in the middle of the song and move around the room as they played. In addition to performing, students took master classes with the US teachers. Naphisa Smith had a class with Geri Arnold who taught her "that playing the Two Grenadiers is like telling a story about French soldiers. Now when I play the Two Grenadiers I think about the soldiers at war. Some parts they are sad and then they are happy when they can go home. So I make some parts of the piece sound sad and the other part I play with lots of energy."

The tour was not all hard work. Anya elaborated, "We went to Greenfield Village and saw inventors' homes and workshops, like [those of] Thomas Edison who invented light and the Wright brothers who invented planes. We went on a hayride. It was the best day ever. The horses were going really fast. When we had free time, I went in the pool and games room."

The verdict on the experience? "My week on tour was really fun," Anya declared, "and I learned a lot. I met lots of nice people. At night I was really tired. I took lots of pictures and videos so that I can remember it when I get older."

"I would do it again in a heartbeat!" declared Charlotte.

"I had so much fun in Michigan," agreed Naphisa. "I can't wait to go again!" The Bermuda School of Music students will be performing locally again at the KatKids Marketplace which is on Thursday, November 20 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.