Our very own Cyril Thompson not only got accepted into Berklee College of Music but also got awarded a scholarship to attend!

Cyril Thompson, also known as “Cyrano Keys,” studied piano with Dr. Paul Jones and Min Rager of McGill University in Canada and has taken lessons with Renowned Bahamian Organist Preston Ferguson. Inspired by the works of Oscar Peterson, Cyril has received the highest ABRSM score in the country for practical piano. He has built up a loyal following of people worldwide studying his viral online jazz transcriptions. Cyril is a sought-after jazz pianist, organist, and keyboardist extraordinaire with an extensive background in classical, gospel, pop, experimental music, and more.

A former Music performance major, Cyril has dreams of becoming a Film Composer and Recording Artist and is well on his way to becoming a household name in the world of music!

Cyril has worked with Berklee Alumna Selah Moonie, Master Bahamian percussionist Zaavan “Bird” Colebrooke, and 15-year-old Drum prodigy Kaleb Poitier. He has contributed to the fingerprint sound of The Village Band and is a PROUD solo artist represented by Poitier Entertainment Management.

Kaleb grew up in a musical family and started drumming when he was just 2 years old. By the time he turned 6, he successfully completed an ear-training test at Berklee. At 11, his drumming videos caught the attention of the world renowned percussionist Sheila E., who shared them with her audience. In 2017, Kaleb and his family won The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Song Competition.

He has learned from skilled instructors like Master percussionist Mr. Neil Symonette. His mother, Selah ‘Moonie’ Poitier, a Berklee graduate, has been a guiding force in his music journey. She always reminded him that if he wanted to succeed, he needed to aim for excellence. She helped him learn to read music, transcribe songs, and took him along to her gigs at churches and local venues. When Kaleb was six, she even brought him to her classes at Berklee, and at 13, he officially joined the Liberation Village.

Kaleb dreams of excelling in all types of music and becoming a professional drummer and touring musician. Recently, he made it to the finals of the Nassau Music Society’s high school drum-off competition and represented The Bahamas in an international drum contest in Poland, where he faced drummers of many ages.

At 15, he is a performing musician, producer, soccer player, and gamer. He is also involved in the Boys Brigade and plays for his school’s soccer team, enjoying basketball and technology in his spare time. In the summer of 2023, Kaleb received a full tuition scholarship from Windsor Albany School and the Music Academy. He continues to bring pride to his family, band, and country.