'Something for everyone' was a promise fulfilled by the Bermuda School of Music's (BSM) annual concert, 'Some Enchanted Evening'.

Held in the Mid-Ocean Amphitheatre, of the Fairmont Southampton, on Saturday before a large and appreciative audience, the programme spanned 400 years of music, beginning with Baroque and ending with jazz, and featuring the collective talents of BSM faculty, members of the Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra, the newly-minted BSM Steel Band, and Bermudian jazz musician Ben Lusher and fellow students from the US.

BSM guitar instructor Steve Crawford, accompanied by the Philharmonic, led the way with a lovely reading of Vivaldi's 'Concerto in D. Major, RV 92'. With its contrasting moods and tempi, it never fails to please, and the soloist ensured that his performance was no exception.

Next came viola player and BSM teacher Laura Appert, resplendent in red, and also accompanied by the Philharmonic, to perform Telemann's 'Concerto in G Major'. To each of its four movements Largo, Allegro Andante and Presto she shed light and beauty, with the Presto being particularly outstanding.

Like Mr. Crawford, Miss Appert experienced ill-informed and untimely applause at the end of each movement, rather than at the end of the work, which is the norm in classical music. Surely, it is long overdue in Bermuda for either an announcement to be made by the emcee, or indicated in the programme, where applause is appropriate. How hard is it to say or write 'we respectfully request that you hold your applause until the end of this work'?

Curiously, however, it was just the opposite during the jazz segment, driving Ben Lusher to request the audience not to withhold its applause during his trio's performance, which is the norm for jazz, particularly when the musicians are really 'cooking', as these so clearly were.

Bringing the first half of the programme to a close was Liszt's 'Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2', played on this occasion on one piano by the four hands of BSM faculty Li You and Margaret Macpherson. The second and most famous of Liszt's 19 Hungarian rhapsodies, it demands exceptional skill of whoever performs it. If, in the early stages, the duo's approach seemed more cautious, any reservations were emphatically dispelled in the intense build-up to its dynamic ending, where the musicianship was sparkling, exciting and truly impressive.

Professional singer Joy Barnum offered 'At Last' to recorded accompaniment, and 'Summertime' backed by Otis Gibb on piano and Calvin Worhel on congas, both of which were very well received. A strong and confident performer with a voice of many colours, her interpretation of these classics was fascinating.

There are musicians, and there are Musicians, and David France is one of the best as millions around the world recently discovered when he successfully won a coveted place in the first-ever YouTube Orchestra.

He not only performed at the famed Carnegie Hall but was concert master for one of the works. On this occasion, with fellow BSM instructor and classical guitarist Louise Southwood, with whom he was scheduled to perform, unavoidably absent, Mr. France opted instead to perform Fritz Kreisler's 'Melody', accompanied by BSM faculty member and pianist Olga Zeidel.

As the director of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra so rightly said, Mr. France "plays from the heart", and his rendering of this short but exquisite piece was simply sublime.

In making their public debut, the Bermuda School of Music Steel Band was excellent, and did their leader/instructor Janice Pearman proud so proud, in fact, that the young students received a well-deserved standing ovation. From their contemporary repertoire, they first offered 'Reach Reach', Gloria Estefan and Diane Warren's inspiring piece which was performed at the closing ceremony of the 1966 Olympics in Atlanta. This was followed by the Italian pop song, 'Quando Quando Quando', and Rossini's sprightly 'William Tel'' Overture, with the darkly stirring 'Church Heathen' as an encore.

Jazz pianist/singer Bermudian Ben Lusher is an awesome young talent who is currently pursuing his musical studies abroad. A former Bermuda Teen Idol and ex-BSM student, he performed on this occasion with visiting fellow students Raviv Markovitz on upright string bass, and Robin Baytas on drums. As a trio, their synergy was impressive. Indeed, it was hard to believe they are not yet professional musicians.

Offerings included the bee-bop era's 'If You Could See me Now', and Cole Porter's classic jazz standard, 'Night and Day'. Their music was filled with fine phrasing, shading and colour, and performed to great effect. As the leader, Mr. Lusher's musicianship was exhilarating and exciting. There is an unseen language between performing musicians which tells you they are having fun, and this trio was like the audience doing just that.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening, the proceeds of which will enable BSM students who could otherwise not afford to pay for lessons to develop their talents through bursaries.