Students at Bermuda Institute received a back-to-school surprise yesterday as they were treated to a visit from a well-known concert pianist.

Michelle Cann, 28, held a masterclass for grades four through six, performed various classical pieces from her concerts and gave a presentation about her experience as a pianist.

“I decided to do this because of my strong relationship with the school,” said Ms Cann. “My father Leonard Cann is Bermudian and used to be a student at BI, he then became their music teacher. My older sisters were born here and our family moved before I was born so I never really got to experience Bermuda.”

Ms Cann started playing the piano at the age of 7 and made her orchestral debut at 14. She has gone on to perform with multiple orchestras including the Florida Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra and has appeared in recital as a chamber musician in China and South Korea.

“Being that I travel to different places for concerts, I always make sure that I visit schools in the area to inspire children,” she said.

“I am thankful and it means a lot to me to interact and connect with kids and share my gift of music that they’ve never heard before. My older sister Kimberley, is also a pianist and I am inspired by her. I think it is great to pass things on to those under you, especially because at this age the kids are very impressionable and haven’t decided what they want to be.”

Ms Cann received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and received an artist diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she now works as one of the new collaborative staff pianists.