Litle did Craig Lemont Walters imagine when he was singing in the St. Paul AME Church choir at the age of six, that one day he would return to his homeland as a star performer with his own show in the 2009 Bermuda Festival.

But then, in the intervening years he has become an award-winning and sought-after professional singer of opera, musicals, jazz and gospel with a busy international career that takes him to legendary venues.

The son of retired dentist and owner of Central Construction Company Dr. Victor Walters, and California resident Shirley Davis Swift, Craig grew up in Pembroke and attended West Pembroke Primary School and Berkeley Institute.

Aged eight he began piano and saxophone lessons, and continued to sing, but when his voice changed what emerged were some impressively deep notes.

"That is when people really took notice, and that is what set me apart from other singers," he recalled. "I always played the piano, and I also studied flute and composition, but as a singer there was something a little bit more than ordinary."

At the age of 15 Mr. Walters received a scholarship from the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts. Later he gained his Bachelor's degree at Jacksonville University in Florida, and the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1987, he won singing competitions which led to him being featured on an album of American negro spirituals, and the honour of giving the world première of songs by William Schirmer and David DiPale.

In 1988, Mr. Walters decided to move to Germany in search of a professional singing career – thanks to a teacher at Peabody who not only inspired him, but who had also travelled the same path.

"His name was William Ray, and he had an entire career in Germany so, being young and dumb, I said that was what I would do. There is a reason why you do those things at that age – you are so much more flexible. I slept on floors, stayed in student residences, and shaved in showers, whereas today I'd say, 'no way'. There's a saying in Germany 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger'."

Living in the Bavarian capital of Munich, the bass singer began to get little jobs here and there "whenever someone wanted someone with low notes". Word got around, and finally Mr. Walters was hired to work for an entire season in a theatre. His first casting was in 'The Merry Widow', a baritone role to which he admits he was unsuited.

"I was scared to death, but I thought if I couldn't do it they wouldn't need me any more. They really didn't know my voice very well, but I managed, and I got through it," he says. "I had been in Germany for a little while, and I was very determined. In fact, I stayed at that theatre for three seasons singing everything, and I also went on to do plays.

"Being built small, I could fit into the dancer's costumes, and if there was a song and dance number I did that too. There were musicals where I really had to dance. It was a great learning experience. Now I say I am a singer who moves well." Today, Mr. Walters still lives in Germany.

Looking back on highlights of his thriving career, he lists such engagements as singing in the première of Gruber's opera, 'Gloria von Jaxtberg', as well as solo and guest artist appearances with the Jacksonville Opera Company, the Baltimore Opera, the Spoleto Festival in Melbourne, Australia, the Capuziner Theatre in Luxembourg, and concert engagements with the Philharmonic Orchestra Satu Mare in Germany and the Göttinger Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Walters has also appeared in a number of musicals in Europe, including 'The Phantom of the Opera' in Switzerland; as Juan Peron in 'Evita', Judas in 'Godspell', and the first German performance of Frank Wildhorn's 'Jekyll and Hyde'.

In the late Spring and early Summer he will again be singing the role of Lawyer Frazier in Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess', and April will find him doing his own show, 'The Best of Swing', on a cruise ship in the Baltic.

"I do a lot of swing standards, and during the show I try to explain to the people what swing is, and where the standards came from. Often a show is long forgotten, but the song still exists," he says. "I also do a second show called 'Gershwin and Friends' during which I explain about the lives of the composers – what they wrote, and the relationship between them. I think people appreciate getting a bit of background."

In fact, Mr. Walters is following a similar format for his Bermuda Festival show, 'An Evening of Jazz'.

"The Festival asked me about taking part in a classical programme, but I really want to sing jazz for Bermuda," he said. "I really enjoy singing jazz now, and I am a big Duke Ellington fan, so I am going to devote the second half of my programme to my favourite composer."

Accompanying the Bermudian singer are a trio of accomplished musicians from Europe: pianist Marc Schmolling, bassist Jonathan Robinson, and drummer Juraj Rasi.

"They are all excellent musicians. The idea was to bring guys from different countries representing places in which I have worked during my years in Europe. This will be the first time the three of us are playing together, although I have worked with all of them at different times. We've been rehearsing and we sound good."

Of course, to be as versatile a singer as Mr. Walters requires very different techniques for opera, jazz, musicals and gospel, so how does he make the transition from one engagement to another?

"I find that as I get older the change-over takes a little longer," he admits.

"It is easier to switch from opera to jazz, than the other way around, which takes a little longer, but I think having a low voice also makes it easier. I just need a few days and then I'm okay for either."

In addition to numerous jazz concerts last year, Mr. Walters also sang in productions of 'Porgy and Bess' in Hamburg, Germany, and the world première of 'In Nomine Patris' in Munich. He was also the guest artist on a number of cruise ships travelling around the world.

"I've actually been around the globe four times, and sung on every continent including Antarctica," he says.

As for future engagements, 'Porgy and Bess' excepted, at this juncture while his schedule is somewhat open, his talent is such that, as always, he can perform at short notice in whatever genre is required.

"A few years ago I was called to sing at the Rome opera house. I walked in and thought I'd have a little bit of time to adjust myself. The first rehearsal was underway, and the director said, 'Mr. Walters, we are just about to sing your duet'.

"There was a woman about seven feet tall who laid into me. She was very loud because she had been singing opera the whole time, whereas I'd been on tour singing jazz with a microphone, so it really took me by surprise. What a funny situation!"

Mr. Walters reveals that, while to the audience it appears two singers are looking into each others eyes, in actual fact they are not because it is a distraction.

"You don't really need to have a partner because you are concentrating on the music," he says. "I actually look down or to the side a little bit."

Like all Bermudian artists returning home for this year's Bermuda Festival, this talented son of the soil is happy to be included, and "thrilled" to share the stage with his musicians.

He also expects to meet up with international tenor David Brewer, who is appearing with Marcelle Clamens in tomorrow night's Festival performance, 'A Night at the Opera', and whom he last saw in Europe in December.

In addition to other members of his family, Mr. Walters' mother and sister Holly, both of whom live in the US, are also looking forward to his show.