At Sharon Apopa’s childhood home on Roberts Avenue, it was common to find her family of 14 sitting out on the porch, playing instruments and listening to music.

Decades later, her tie to music is just as strong. She’s behind a fundraiser at the BIU on Friday. “Generations: A Family Concert” will feature R&B, jazz and gospel classics performed by Dr Apopa’s relatives. The show will honour her twin sister, Caron Assan, who died in 2009.

“Caron had this vision that education was a weapon of mass destruction and people should have an opportunity to have a second chance to go back and fulfil their potential if they encountered life challenges that prevented them from doing so the first time,” said Dr Apopa, the executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute.

“So when she died in 2009 we developed this scholarship fund and so far we’ve awarded five recipients $5,000. A couple of our past recipients are still in school, but one is now a lawyer; one became a social worker and another a teacher.

“Every two years I do something to raise funds. This year I decided, because Caron loved music and played the piano, we would do a concert in her honour.”

Bermuda Idol winner, Samantha Smith, will sing at the show.

“My father, George Smith, was [Sharon and Caron’s] brother,” she said. “He was a musician who passed away so I will be representing him in the concert by performing some of the music he loved, as well as an original piece which represents all my aunts and uncles, who were part of a group back in the day.

“We come from a musical family and many of my father’s siblings had musical accomplishments, so either their children or grandchildren will be representing them in the show.”

Six of Dr Apopa’s 12 siblings are now deceased, including Ms Assan who died from a massive heart attack.

“Caron had gone to the Bermuda College to do some work that day and had left at 10am. By 10.15am she was dead,” Dr Apopa said. “She was driving along and crashed and when first responders went to the car to see if she needed help she was dead. Just like that.

“During her life she made all sorts of contributions. She was the director of the National Drug Control Department and ran The Women’s Treatment Centre of Bermuda. The day she died was actually the first day I hadn’t travelled to work with her in years.

“We were as thick as thieves. She was the visionary and I was the executor. She would think of all the different wonderful plans and I would be the one to make it happen.”

The personal tragedy taught Dr Apopa to find the blessing in any situation.

“I believe that every pain in life, if you make it purposeful it helps you to move on,” the 59-year-old said. “So being able to do something as a result of Caron’s death that reaches other people’s lives has made her death more manageable for me and helps me to deal with the pain and understand that everything has purpose.

“Even in her death it gives us an opportunity to give second chances to others. That’s why I encourage people to think of what kind of legacy they want to leave behind.”

Friday’s concert is meant to be a fun event for the whole family. Audience members will be invited to take the stage and show off their talents.

“I just want people to walk away realising even in the midst of the challenging times in our own community there are still opportunities to laugh,” she said. “I feel laughter is important so to create opportunities for them to celebrate their life and their families is what all this is about.”

• “Generations: A Family Concert” will take place at the Bermuda Industrial Union hall at 7pm. Tickets are $50 for adults; $25 for children six and older; children under 5 are free. They are on sale at 27th Century