The Bermuda Chamber Choir and Chamber Ensemble will present a programme of works by Dvorak and Schubert, as well as sacred music of the Romantic era, at St. John's parish church, Pembroke tonight at 7.30 p.m.

Directed by Ryan Ellis, and featuring soloists Mary-Claire Havas and Ruth Stovell (sopranos); Allison Messier (mezzo soprano); Peter Nash and Bradford Gleim (baritones), the 42-voice Choir and 21-musician Ensemble will open the programme with Dvorak's 'Mass in D', Op. 86.

This will be followed by Max Reger's '12 Stücke für die Orgel', Op. 59 (12 pieces for the Organ) featuring visiting organist Jeffrey Kempskie.

Mary-Claire Havas was a professional soprano soloist and voice teacher in New York City in the 1990s. She was also a soloist for various choral societies and churches, with a specialised repertoire. She sang for the US Immigration Department in a ceremony at Ellis Island, and also at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy.

Ms Havas was a soloist in last November's Mendelssohn concert by the Bermuda Chamber Choir, and sings with the Ensemble Singers and the choir of Christ Church, Warwick.

She also sang in the 2009 Bermuda Festival performance of Haydn's 'Missa in Tempore Belli'.

Ruth Stovell grew up in Pennsylvania. She holds a Bachelor's degree in communication studies from West Chester University, and has been a church cantor for more than 25 years.

She moved to Bermuda in 2000 and began singing with the Bermuda Chamber Choir in 2003.

Her most recent performances were in Haydn's 'Missa In Tempore Belli' in last year's Bermuda Festival, and also the Mendelssohn concert last November. Allison Messier is a passionate and committed performer of opera, oratorio and song.

Her voice is well-suited to low-lying alto solos as well as the fuller, mezzo-soprano operatic and song repertoires.

She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, and now studies in New York City. She lives in Boston, and has appeared with numerous choirs and orchestras throughout New England.

Bradford Gleim's singing career is devoted to opera, oratorio, song and choral music. His repertoire spans the past four centuries, and he excels in diverse styles.

He has appeared in concert throughout North America and Europe.

Peter Nash is well known in Bermuda for his choral singing. He was a leading soloist with the Bermuda Philharmonic Society for more than 30 years; has performed both as a soloist and featured soloist in three Bermuda Festival presentations; and has been a regular performer with the Bermuda Chamber Choir since its inception.

Jeffrey Kempskie is currently pursuing a Master's degree in organ performance and literature at the Eastman School of Music.

He also accompanies the Eastman Repertory Singers, and serves as interim director of music at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York.

The organist is a former teacher of choral music; has been the piano accompanist for choirs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Smith College, and has music-directed or played keyboard for many musical productions in central Massachusetts.

He also holds degrees in music education and choral conducting from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Ryan Ellis is well known on the Island as a conductor of choral and orchestral ensembles. He played an essential role in the formation of the Bermuda Festival Chamber Orchestra, which was featured in both the 2009 and 2010 Festivals.

He studied choral conducting with Wayne Abercrombie, and orchestral conducting with Jeffrey Rink of Concert Opera Boston, and Lanfranco Marcelletti, Jr., one of Brazil's most outstanding conductors.

He teaches voice, piano and theory at the Bermuda School of Music, and since 2006 has directed its Bermuda Chamber Choir, and also its Treble choir.

Tonight's concert is being presented by the Bermuda School of Music, and tickets (adults $35, students $15) can be purchased at C-Travel (tel. 292-3033), the Bermuda School of Music (tel. 296-5100), and also at the door.