As Liverpool Cathedral in England celebrates its centennial this year, the Bermuda Festival is proud to welcome its Organist and Master of the Choristers, Ian Tracey, who opens the first of two performances at St. Paul?s Church, Paget this evening.

Both concerts will begin at 8 p.m.

Beginning his musical studies at Liverpool Cathedral, Mr. Tracey continued at Trinity College, London, England, where he became a Fellow. He became the youngest Cathedral Organist in 1980, and was subsequently appointed to his present position.

Over the years, the organist has planed at most of the major venues in the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as making extensive tours of the United States, where he is very much in demand.

Since his appointment to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society, Mr. Tracey has been studying conducting, and regularly conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir.

He is also a frequent broadcaster with the BBC, and a regular soloist at the famed Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. His recordings on the Liverpool Cathedral organ, for both EMI and Chandos, have met with wide critical acclaim.

It is fitting that Mr. Tracey?s inaugural Bermuda Festival performance coincides with the newly completed renovations to the organ at St. Paul?s Church, Paget.

After several months of upheaval to the gallery area, the organ, with its many new features, is now complete. Originally built in 1901 in London for the Anglican Cathedral, it was completely rebuilt and enlarged to concert proportions in 1993 by Bermudian Adrian Ridgeway.

As a result, it is the only organ in Bermuda containing examples of many stops, including a French horn, cor anglais, orchestral strings, several varied celestes, spitzgamba, tromba real and a 32-foot bombarde.

Comprehensive by any international standard, its 87 ranks in seven divisions make it the largest organ in Bermuda.

For further/ticket information see today?s Bermuda Calendar.