Trombones de Costa Rica makes its Bermuda Festival debut at City Hall theatre tonight, but not the tuba player who appears with them.

Yes, Kenneth Amis is coming home - at least for these two performances, the second of which is tomorrow night.

Born and raised in Bermuda, Mr. Amis first studied piano before switching to the tuba in high school, where he first became interested in performing and composition.

His first published work, `A Suite for Bass Tuba', was composed when he was 15. Since graduating from Boston University and the New England Conservatory, where he earned a Master's Degree in comosition, he has been commissioned to write for numerous institutions and events.

As a soloist he hs performed with the English Chamber Orhcestra, and has been a member of the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra and the New World Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has served on the faculties of several universities, and is currently the tuba player with Empire Brass, and holds the international brass chair at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

The Costa Rican trombone quartet is regarded as one of the most exotic brass ensembles on the North American continent. Since its foundation in 1991, the group has presented informative and exciting recitals to wide-ranging audiences, and in 1997 won the National Music Award.

The musicians have been lauded for their flawless technique, originality and interest in new ideas.

The group is well known for commissioning new works from important Costa Rican composers, among others, and their performances will include a piece especially composed for their Bermuda Festival debut. The ensemble make frequent appearances on radio and television in the US, Latin America and Europe, and its diverse repertoire is show cased on their CD, `Contrastes'.

Trombones de Costa Rica is made up of Alejandro Gutierrez (director/tenor trombone), Leonel Rodriguez (tenor trombone), Martin Bonilla (tenor trombone), Ivan Chinchilla (bass trombone) and Freddy Melendez (percussion), all of whom have impressive records as individual international artists, and hold important positions in the realm of teaching.