The Bermuda Philharmonic Society will hold its first concert of the season at the Cathedral on Saturday.

Dr. Gary Burgess, music director of the philharmonic, will be conducting the concert which will feature two major concertos along with three other orchestral works.

?The concert will open with the ever-popular Carmen Suite with popular melodies from Bizet?s opera,? he said.

?The suite includes ?March of the Smugglers?, ?Haba?era?, ?Michaela?s Aria?, ?Song of the Toreador? and the ?Children?s Chorus from Act 1?.

The concert will also feature horn specialist Kent Hayward, who is a member of the Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra as first chair.

Mr. Hayward, a Bermudian, is head of the music department at Warwick Academy and a popular horn player with many local organisations.

He received his master?s degree from Western Michigan University and was a member of the university?s Woodwind Quintet.

He will play ?Morceau de Concert?, a horn concerto written by Saint-Saens.

The ?Carnival of the Animals?, also by Saint-Saens, will follow.

This orchestral transcription is by Steven Rosenhaus and will feature ?The Royal March of the Lion?, ?Kangaroos?, ?The Cuckoo Deep in the Forest?, ?Fossils? and the ?Finale?.

Dr. Burgess said this suite is always a delight to adults and children alike.

?The harp has always been a mystical instrument and we in Bermuda do not always have the opportunity to witness live performances,? he said.

?Not only will you witness the harp, but also virtuoso playing by world-renowned artist Mario Falcao.

?Mr. Falcao was born and educated in Lisbon, Portugal, and did his basic music studies at the Lisbon Conservatory.

?He was awarded a Fulbright Grant to study at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, completing his master?s degree in harp performance.

?He was also a prize winner at the 5th International Harp Contest, in Jerusalem, and an international judge of many harp contests.

?He has appeared as soloist with orchestras in the US, Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic, Denmark and Japan. He has also played in recitals in London, New York City, Washington DC, Madrid, Lisbon, Paris and other European cities.

?A performance not to be missed.?

Dr. Burgess added that the concert will end with the mighty ?Academic Festival Overture? by Johannes Brahms.

The concert takes place at The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Church Street, Hamilton, on Saturday, at 8 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased from the Cathedral Book Store, which is located in the rear of the church or at the door on the night.