the Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble presents An Evening of Jazz Under the Stars at the Sandys Secondary School amphitheatre.

Tempo, the Max Maybury Quartet, Sondra Choudhury, Vic Glazer and Toni Robinson are just some of the artists who will join the Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble and its director Wendell (Shine) Hayward on the programme, which begins at 8 p.m.

The event is a fund-raiser for the Bermuda National Youth Jazz Orchestra, which has been invited to join the Hamilton and St. George's town criers at the Sir George Somers festivities to take place in Lyme Regis, Dorset, England from July 22 to 30 this summer.

The Ensemble, together with the group Mahogany, will be featured in a number of concerts throughout Dorset and Plymouth, where they are expected to play before large crowds.

Members of the National Youth Jazz Ensemble are drawn from a number of private and Government schools, including CedarBridge Academy, and the organisation of the Ensemble is the first step in an effort to re-establish the National Youth Orchestra.

"As many of Bermuda's talented young musicians often put their instruments aside after they complete high school and college, one of the major goals of the annual project is to encourage that particular group of young people to continue with their instruments, and further develop their playing skills,'' chairman of the Bermuda National Education Council and co-ordinator of the Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble, Melvyn Bassett, explained.

As an incentive to attract and keep the members of the Ensemble focussed, and to encourage regular and consistent involvement, the approximately 22-strong group has been given opportunities to participate in jazz camps overseas.

"Participation in the camps provides the young people with the opportunity to interact, practice and perform with other outstanding and talented young musicians,'' Mr. Bassett said. "We believe that their involvement allows them to gain greater insight and a healthy perspective of their own level of skill and talent.'' In addition to receiving instruction from many outstanding professional musicians, the youngsters get to polish their skills as an Ensemble.

Tickets (patrons $30, general admission $20) for Friday night's concert are available at Caesar's Pharmacy, Sandys Middle School, and the People's Pharmacy.