Baritone Leon Williams has performed around the world in opera, concert and musical theatre for over a quarter of a century.

He will perform at the Sandys Middle School's 80th Anniversary celebrations tomorrow night.

Pianist Deon Flash, who is returning to the Island to promote his newly released CD, will join Mr. Williams.

Also taking the stage during the All Male Gospel Concert will be The Emancipations, Bermuda's favourite male voice group, and Michael Taylor and Friends, an instrumental ensemble.

Mr. Williams was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from the world-renowned Boys Choir of Harlem. He then earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and a Master's degree from the Juilliard School of Music in New York.

Over the years, he has received accolades in several national and international vocal competitions, one of which is the prestigious Naumburg Award.

Some of the highlights of his varied career include a performance at the White House, when the late President Ronald Reagan was in office. He has had orchestral performances at Carnegie Hall, The New York Philharmonic, Japan's Osakadome, Italy's Spoleto Festival, Finland's Pori Jazz Festival and Russia's St. Petersburg Philharmonic.

On Broadway, Mr. Williams has performed in both leading roles of Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Booker T. Washington in the original production of the hit musical 'Ragtime'.

In Hawaii, he was featured for three consecutive seasons at the Hawaii Opera Theater. He also recently made his Honolulu Symphony debut in the title role of Elijah, in Mendelssohn's oratorio.

Some of Mr. Williams' upcoming engagements include a performance of Lukas' Foss musical setting of Mark Twain's Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, in Sao Paolo, Brazil; a US tour entitled 'The Art of Leon Williams'.

In addition, he will perform in the role of Jake in the Dallas Opera production of Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess' and a premiere of a new work for Baritone and Cello by Stephen Flaherty at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

He currently resides in Kailua, and is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko'olau where he assists in leading worship.

The 80th Anniversary celebrations continue with a Service of Thanksgiving, at St. James Church, on October 26.

Former student Canon James Francis will bring the address, the event will play host to ex-scholars, Friends of Sands, and current students and teachers, said Dr. Melvyn Bassett, former principal, but director of Sports Foundation.

"Following the service, the students will visit the former sites of the school," he said.

"They are mostly homes, until the school settled on the current site on Scotts Hill.

"Another former student, the Hon. David Burch will address the student body.

"It should be a very interesting."

On October 27, there will be the 80th Anniversary School Fair.

Tickets for The All Male Concert are $30 and can be purchased at the People's Pharmacy, Caesar's Pharmacy, Sandys Secondary Middle School on 234-1346, or telephone 335-6899.