A brillant student who is currently in her final year at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, where she studies piano and computer science, Miss Wong loves all forms of music, including classical, pop, rock and jazz.

Her list of academic and musical achievements, awards, and public performances both here and abroad is extensive. In addition to the piano, she also plays the violin and drums, and following her graduation in June she plans to pursue a Master's degree in piano performance.

Miss Wong, 21, is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Roger Wong of Southampton, and an Honours graduate of both the Bermuda High School for Girls and Miss Porter's School in Connecticut.

She is looking forward to sharing her talents with Bermuda, and prior to her arrival was happy to share details of her life, studies and experiences with Lifestyle's Nancy Acton.

Q: At what age did you begin taking an interest in music, and when did you begin formal lessons? A: I began piano lessons at age four with Mrs. Marlene Campbell, founder of the Bermuda Suzuki School, but my parents had me listening to classical music long before that. I began by observing other students' lessons, along with my mother. I found this extremely frustrating because I was not allowed to touch the piano myself, but it motivated me even more to start learning.

Q: Did you willingly practice, and if so, for how long? A: Even as I child, I loved to practice. My mother and I would wake up as early as 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. so I could practice before going to school, and I was always willing. We would practice late into the night too, and I loved it.

Of course, as school got more demanding, juggling practice and schoolwork became more difficult -- it's even worse in college -- but I still spent as much time as I could at the piano.

Throughout high school, I was "the nerd'' because I spent my nights and weekends studying and practicing. This was my own choice. My parents were always behind me, encouraging me to develop my skills and my ideas, and generally to give all I could to every challenge, musical or otherwise.

Q: Are you only interested in the piano, or do you play another instrument? A: More often than not, classical pianists seemed to play alone, and musicians in groups seemed to have so much fun. I really wanted to be a part of something like the latter, so at seven I began taking violin lessons. I continued studying violin until I got to college, and during that time I got to work with many different groups and orchestras, which was fun. But the satisfaction I felt when I was actually playing the violin never rivalled the high I got from the piano. The piano just seemed to fit my personality better, in some way. I could understand it, and when I tried to communicate with it, other people could understand me.

In high school in Connecticut I discovered the drum set. As incredible as Western classical music is, I didn't want to play only that type music for the rest of my life without at least having tried to learn about what else is out there. Since I've been at Wellesley, I've played drums in a rock band, two jazz groups, and a Haitian/West-African drum and dance ensemble.

I've been with the jazz band Prism at Wellesley for my entire college career so far, and I think this has definitely been one of the most fun, exciting, revealing, and stimulating experiences I've had as a musician. I could go on and on about how cool it is to improvise music that way, surrounded by cool people.

I've started taking jazz piano lessons so that I can make my favourite instrument part of this cool equation.

Q: How old were you when gave your first recital here, and what others have you given? A I did my first recital when I was five, I think. It was to commemorate my completion of the first of six books of the Suzuki piano repertoire. Every time I finished a book of repertoire I would have a recital. I finished the last book when I was eleven, and I gave a recital in the Bermuda High School's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Premier John Swan was there and it was very exciting. I think I was the first Bermudian to finish all six Suzuki books.

I gave another recital in 1993 at City Hall in cooperation with the Bermuda Suzuki String Ensemble. In 1995 I performed a Mozart piano concerto as part of the Bermuda High School centenary celebration, and last January I accompanied a recital given by Tim Welch (baritone) in the Bermuda Festival Fringe.

Q: What are you studying at Wellesley College? A: I am a music major, with a minor in computer science.

Q: This is a very demanding schedule. How do you juggle your commitments? A: With difficulty, but I am very motivated. Many of my friends are also doing double majors or have a major plus a minor. Wellesley is challenging, but there are plenty of motivated people around to motivate me.

Q: Who is your favourite composer, and what type of music do you like to listen to? A: I'm afraid I no longer have an answer to this question since I am involved with so many different types of music. When I listen to music for fun, I usually listen to pop, rock, or jazz -- rarely classical. It is not that I consider classical music "work'' or "not fun'' -- that's just the way it works out.

The whole idea behind music is that it is "in the moment.'' To illustrate what I mean, I'm listening to a great band from the UK right now which plays pop music using nothing but synthesisers. I can't stop smiling because I'm enjoying it so much. So to me, right now, in this moment, this synthesised pop is the greatest music ever written. In an hour, I might turn on Bill Evans, then he'll become my favourite composer. Tomorrow I'll go to the piano and play some Beethoven, and I'll be in love with that again, just as I was this morning. A very complicated answer to a very simple question, I'm afraid.

Q: Do you have your own piano at Wellesley? A: No, I have to trek to the campus Arts Centre in the cold.

Q: Do you go to concerts? If so, name some of the famous artists you have heard who thrilled/surprised you and why? A: I love going to concerts. Sometimes it's even more fun than playing, but I always feel like playing after I go to a really good concert. Watching other people play makes me feel proud to be a musician too.

I go to all types of concerts, but rock concerts are definitely my favourite.

The same amount of energy that the rock band expends is absorbed by the audience and used to jump up and down and really get fully into the music. You don't jump up and down at a classical concert, even though you might feel like it.

I think the best classical performances I have attended were two outdoor concerts by the Boston Pops Orchestra. They play a range of classical and contemporary "favourites'', and they always look like they are having a really great time. Since they were held outside in summertime, you could actually jump up and down -- and there were quite a few who did. Not all of them were in the audience either -- some were actually on stage.

Q: How do you like to relax? Do you have any hobbies? A: I read a lot of novels, which I love. Sometimes I write pop music. I have made a lot of great friends at Wellesley, especially in the jazz band, so of course I hang out with them in Boston. I especially love going to concerts and movies.

Q: Do you miss Bermuda and your family, and are you excited about coming home to play for a local audience? A: I miss my family very much, and I miss Bermuda too, especially when it snows. I am very excited about performing for a Bermuda audience because these are the people who watched me grow up. I would like to show them what I've been up to while I've been away.

Q: When do you graduate? A: In June 2001. Hopefully after that, it's on to graduate school and preferably a Masters of Music programme in piano performance. I have applied to schools in the US and the UK. I want to go somewhere where I can continue studying jazz and contemporary music. That will allow me to put to combined use my knowledge of and enthusiasm for all types of music.

Hitting the right note Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement? A: Having such a wonderful family, finding the greatest friends anybody could ask for, and getting the most inspiring, caring and down-to-earth musician I've ever known to work with me as my piano teacher in Bermuda.

Q: What do want to do with your future? A: Play music, listen to music, read novels, keep learning -- in general, take it as it comes.

Q: What pieces will you play in your Bermuda concert, and why did you choose them? A: The programme will include: Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major from Book II of J.S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier; Sonata, op. 110 by Beethoven; Fantasy, op. 49 by Chopin; three Etudes, also by Chopin; and Excursions, op. 20 by Samuel Barber.

I chose these pieces in accordance with some guidelines set out by the graduate schools to which I am applying, who of course all require auditions.

They are also pieces that I love and from which I thought I could learn and have fun, and with which I also I thought I could say something.

I also like to play things that are "me'' -- that I really identify with in some way. The Barber piece, for instance, which was written in the 1940s, is a set of four movements in classical form based on different types of American popular music: from blues to boogie to pop to country. That's a lot of the music I like all rolled into one piece, and that's fun. It embodies my belief that all types of music are of equal value.

Miss Wong's piano recital on March 18 will be at Paul's Church, Paget, beginning at 4 p.m. Admission is free. For further information 296-5100.