What do you get when you take five young musicians with a desire to play music glorifying God?

A dynamite performance. That is what happened last month when Bermuda Institute band In Time took to the stage at the CableVision Salute to Service Banquet.

Due to school commitments, the five-strong band had time to practice only twice before the big gig.

But that did not stop them from getting a standing ovation from the influential crowd.

Percussionist Micah O’Brien, 15, said he never expected that they would receive such a positive reaction from the audience.

“We played at a church once but people just stared at us after the set was over, so we didn’t know how to take that,” he said.

“When it came to the performance for CableVision, I truthfully wasn’t sure if we had done well or not.

“The audience looked like they enjoyed it, but I didn’t think they’d give us a standing ovation. When they did, I was really excited.

“It was a reassurance to me that we could actually play and that we could play well enough to entertain dignitaries.”

En Harmony have been playing together at their school, church and small community gatherings since 2013.

Most of them are self-taught musicians, including 16-year-old organist Rollin Nathan junior

One day five years ago he started fiddling with the piano keys while at his aunt’s house. His dad, CableVision sales manager Rollin Nathan, eventually heard him and suggested that he get his own piano.

“I started to really like it and decided to stick with it,” the teenager said.

Bass guitarist Zaren Bennett, 17, also realised he had a natural gift a few years ago.

He said: “I came to Bermuda Institute in 2009 and joined the band shortly after that.

“I just picked up an instrument and then another one and another one and kept going like that.

“Now I can play the bass and five other instruments — the piano, drums, guitar, trombone and steel band.”

He considers his talent to be a blessing from God.

“It means a lot to me that God could give me this talent, but I realise it’s not something I should keep to myself,” Mr Bennett said. “He wants me to use it to worship to other people — to show them what God has done for me and the band as a whole.”

The band started off playing only two Christian songs — He is Able and Come Everyone. Their repertoire has expanded but they are happy to stick to their gospel roots.

“Gospel and Christian music is what we grew up with,” said saxophone player Aaron Spencer, 15.

“We’ve all been Seventh-day Adventist Christians since we were born, so to play these songs it’s just what we’re used to.

“Before we play and sing, we pray that people would be blessed and that people don’t see us, but see God through us.”

Praying before a big performance helps the boys to ease any nervousness and grounds them before going on stage.

Keyboard player Aaron Ratteray was the one who picked Break Every Chain for the CableVision banquet. Soon after it started playing, he realised he got it right.

“People immediately got to their feet and could relate. They were really into it,” he said.

“The first time I heard the song at Restoration Ministries I liked it as well. It had a nice flow, plus the lyrics are really powerful and remind you that God can break every chain or whatever’s holding you back in your life.

“We wanted to inspire people with the song.”