this year's Bermuda Jazzfest was a 15-year-old Berkeley Institute student.

Dainavon Tuzo said he was nervous while sitting before more than 1,000 people at the Dockyard festival on October 16.

"I was not nervous offstage,'' Dainavon said this week. "But when they announced the names of the band members, I got nervous. After a few songs it went away.'' A member of the Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble -- directed by Mr.

Hayward -- Dainavon said he admired him and wanted to be a music producer or music teacher.

He added: "If I go to college I want to do music performance. Producing and teaching will involve playing so I will be happy.'' Dainavon, of Devonshire, said he was first exposed to drumming while in church as a baby. He still attends Miracle Temple New Testament Church of God on North Shore, Devonshire. "I come from a musical family,'' he said. "The church had at least ten drummers to call on. They would inspire me. I would ask questions and go home and practise.'' He said he could not escape music and chose drums as his main instrument but plays other instruments including the saxophone and keyboards in addition to singing in the Miracle Temple Sunbeam Choir.

"I play all types of music, especially gospel, jazz, r&b, and latin music,'' Dainavon said.

Being able to read music is an advantage for musicians including drummers, he said.

He added: "Feeling can be in music though. Whoever you are playing for can feel it from you. I have to get into it to play well.'' Dainavon said of the performers at Jazzfest, Kevin Eubanks was his favourite.

"I loved his set a lot,'' he said. "He played fusion jazz and a lot of people did not understand. You may have to really be into music to understand what he was playing.''