My father, Lionel, was born and raised in Bermuda. Among his many interests, and those of his older brother Michael, was music. As boys they put together their own instruments, and as teenagers my dad played percussion and my uncle played guitar. Some might still remember their playing, as they were relatively well-known musicians, even at that time. Theirs was the first generation of musicians in our family. They loved music for its own sake, and learned to play by ear.

When my father went off to college in the US he originally intended to go into the area of fire science, but caring professors convinced him that his precious musical gifts should be utilised, so he majored in music education, and the rest is history.

These centre around listening to my parents play music, both live and recorded, in our home and in the community. As a child, I was just as likely to come home and dance around the living room to a Beethoven symphony as a Lionel Hampton classic. The steel drums always fascinated me, although I wasn?t allowed to play them until I was older.

My mother Kaye played the piano and French horn (although chemistry was her main area of expertise), and she was my very first piano teacher, starting me officially when I was five. At the time we lived right above the Bermuda Institute, and I practically lived on campus as well, taking in the various rehearsals and performances that all the ?big kids? got to be part of, and watching my dad conduct them.

At the Warwick Seventh-Day Adventist Church I loved to sing; when we kids went up front I am told I would often taken the microphone and ?hog? it when other children didn?t sing up enough to my liking!

Although it was apparent that I loved music, I was fortunate that my parents wanted me to have a well-rounded childhood, so in addition to music I took dance lessons, and later gymnastics, for a number of years. My academic studies were always very important, and I enjoyed math and literature/reading very much.

In terms of music, I began piano at age five, trumpet at age seven, with other instruments in the ensuing years: organ, euphonium/baritone, bassoon, violin, and of course steel drums. Some of these instruments were chosen by me, others through necessity or circumstance, but I enjoyed them all, and looking back realise how unique a gift that was. Even music education majors rarely have the opportunity to get to know each instrumental family in that way. This was the start of my interests in what I later came to learn was the discipline of ethnomusicology ? or the study of world musics.

My love of the stage was apparent pretty much from the day I could walk up there on my own, and being young is a funny thing. Only gradually does one learn to be self-conscious, as you grow into the knowledge of an outside society that might be judging you. So, when I was younger I don?t remember being nervous at all.

Right around age 11 when I was in the eighth grade the nerves started to kick in. Seasoned performers know that it never really goes away entirely; you just learn to use that extra energy to your advantage, and the energy of the audience and the connection with others and the music is what makes it all more than worthwhile. It?s difficult to describe the exhilaration that comes from sharing something meaningful with an audience, and what is more meaningful than the ultimate act of cultural expression that is music?

Equally wonderful because the orchestra is sharing the beauty right along with you. My first concerto performance was ten years ago at age 14, and I can?t say I?ve had much more fun since then playing Tchaikovsky, Schumann or Beethoven concerti ? except maybe scuba diving in the Florida Keys. I guess I?m an energy junkie, whether it?s connecting with people or nature.

The world of serious music competition (as opposed to something like ?American Idol?) is something else again. Along with the positives ? exposure, experience, feedback, and various performance and/or scholarship opportunities ? there are quite often a varied combination of negatives, including the fact that creativity is not greatly encouraged, and subjectivity clouds what already would be a difficult judgement of talented kids. I began to compete at age 12, and continued until recently.

In most competitions, one performs a solo programme or a concerto or both. The sad fact, in the end, is that when classical music was more appreciated by society the competition was a more healthy environment, where the exposure could catapult a career in music. Today, when the few major label conglomerates are dropping their classical labels altogether, and live audiences tend to dwindle, there isn?t enough room for a pianist to make a career solely on performing classical music.

My parents always stressed the importance of education in all areas, and that is the ?secret? of my success.

I love to learn, and I live to learn. The minute you think you?ve arrived, and that you know all there is to know about a subject (or a person, or a group of people) is the minute you begin your downward slide, because essentially you?ve told your brain it can be lazy now. It can assume that it has all the knowledge, and in my opinion, that is the most dangerous and harmful thought any human has ever had, whether it?s your opinion on your religion, your music, your culture?s way of doing things. Always be open to new ideas and seek to understand more ? that?s what I?m about.

My parents had me decide at age 12 because that?s when most pianists must begin a rather specific journey involving many hours of practice and performance. Today I practice between four and five hours a day.

They are wonderful. I have my two highly supportive parents, who know that children, no matter how talented, will not develop discipline on their own, so absolutely they made me practice. It wasn?t until I was nine or so that my father decided my piano teachers weren?t actually challenging me, and that summer he put his foot down and had me learn several Bach Inventions. Much to everyone?s surprise, I learned them quickly and enjoyed them thoroughly. The rest is history.

I have three younger sisters: Lavona (21), Michelle (18) and Kathrina (15). The entire family is very musical. Between us we can play most of the western instruments and some others as well. Michelle is in her first year at the Cleveland Institute of Music, also majoring in piano. Kathrina is a junior in high school, and first flute in the Florida Youth Symphony, though she doesn?t plan to go into music for a career. Lavona is the light of all our lives. She has Down?s Syndrome, so she remains at home with our parents, going to a local school, and being a sweetheart.

She has better natural rhythmic and melodic skills than many students I?ve taught over the years; she?s one of my favourite people to play duets with. Plus, she?s a killer dancer. I couldn?t ask God for a better family.

I am absolutely thrilled to be coming back to what I still consider ?home.? It?s been 14 years since I was back, and I can?t wait to see my various relatives and friends there ? my grandparents Arnold and Mary Cann; uncles William and Dilton; Lois and Bramwell Tucker, and many more.

I think it is wonderful that the concert is sold out. The show of love and support, both of myself and this timeless music, is very touching, and I only hope it doesn?t overwhelm me too much. I don?t think even my parents realise how much I love the Island, and all of the vivid and precious memories I carry with me to this day. I will stay for nearly a week, and plan to see as much of the Island and as many people as I can. I really want to reconnect and see how it feels to be back as an adult. The US is a very different place and has always felt a little foreign to me, particularly as I learn more about it.

I chose the pieces more for their overall accessibility and romanticism. My one ?love song? is to Bermuda: Debussy?s ?Island of Joy?, which is the final piece on the programme.

I?m a strange combination of nerd and adrenaline junkie! I love beauty and expression, and I seek it out in all different types of music, poetry and literature, in the oceans (scuba diving), in the mountains (hiking).

I loved gymnastics when I was younger and more flexible, but still enjoy Tae Kwon Do. I love to cook, watch good movies, and someday I want to drive a race car ? just once! I also write my own music ? a fusion of classical, romantic, jazz and hip-hop styles with varied instrumentation, and plan to come out with an album this year.

I wish I could tell you that I have my whole future lined up exactly; then again, life is a journey, and part of the joy is in learning as it unfolds. I can tell you my goals, though. I hope to write more, to compose music (for steel drums in particular ? thanks Dad!), to record and to tour.

My ultimate goal is to bridge the ever-wider gap between ?serious? music and pop music. Neither, in my opinion, is doing the world any good in its current state. Classical music needs to become more personable and approachable, and popular music needs to be more than just club or dance music ? or worse, a harmful medium for stereotypes. There?s very little in-between right now.

I hope that my message of universalism helps to bring people together, and to remind us that beauty in music is not limited to one genre, but can be appreciated and celebrated by all in this growing global community. The record companies need to be reminded that less is not more, and that the global environment means you can have increased variety and possibility, not less.