Bermuda Festival General Manager Antoinette Davis will step down in May 2001, and be succeeded by Mrs. Louise Cabral.

The changeover was confirmed by Festival chairman Geoffrey Moore yesterday.

"We are very sorry that Mrs. Davis is stepping down,'' he said, "but her loss is to some extent ameliorated by our good fortune in her replacement by Louise Cabral. Louise has a wealth of experience in the field of the performing arts, both as a dancer and an insightful reviewer. We all look forward to working with her.'' Indeed, Mrs. Cabral is no stranger to the Bermuda Festival office, having worked closely with Mrs. Davis on several projects since the former took office in 1995.

"I have every confidence that Louise will continue to successfully implement some of the changes which Mr. Moore and the executive committee feel are necessary in order to move the Bermuda Festival into the 21st Century,'' Mrs.

Davis said. "Change is never easy, and is never born without some pain, so I do know that Louise has her work cut out for her.'' Whilst formally relinquishing her post as General Manager next year in order to travel, Mrs. Davis is not quitting her association with the Festival altogether.

"I will continue to be active in the office until December 2001, when Louise will certainly be ready to `fly' alone,'' she said.

Looking back on her five years in the Festival hot seat, the General Manager said she had thoroughly enjoyed them all.

"Every day presented challenges and deadlines; it was only when the lights dimmed and the show started that those of us in the engine room of each Festival performance could relax and congratulate ourselves on a job well done.'' For her part, Mrs. Cabral said she was "thrilled'' to have been offered the post by Mr. Moore.

"I am passionate about the arts and always have been,'' she explained. "I studied French and German literature and dramatic writing as an undergraduate at Oxford University. I also ran a television company in London for a short time, and have performed and competed as a dancer.'' For the past ten years Mrs. Cabral worked as a journalist and critic, first in the British regional press, and subsequently for The Royal Gazette, Mid-Ocean News and Bermuda Sun..

A long-time supporter of the Bermuda Festival, Mrs. Cabral felt it not only provided varied, quality entertainment for visitors and residents alike at a traditionally quiet time of year, but also had great benefits for Bermudians in particular.

"The Festival broadens our collective experience, fires our imagination and improves our quality of life,'' she said.

In accepting her new post, Mrs. Cabral said that while she was looking forward to working with everyone involved, it was not without some trepidation.

"(The Bermuda Festival) is fortunate in having an excellent executive committee, and is blessed with an army of willing volunteers who keep it running so efficiently.'' Paying tribute to the generous benefactors, sponsors and patrons without whom she said the Festival could not succeed, Mrs. Davis also had high praise for the invaluable contributions of its 200 volunteers, whom she described as "wonderful, dedicated and enthusiastic''.

"The organisational success of the Bermuda Festival remains firmly with them, and some have been providing their time and energy for 25 years. In reality, they contribute to more than just the Festival -- they contribute to the cultural wealth of our small Island. My sincere thanks goes to all of them.''