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This week we feature Young Professional André S. L. Braithwaite
If you do not mean it do not say to Mr. André Sydney Leon Braithwaite “If music be the food of love play on” because if you do the music will never stop. He is capable of hushing a tiny baby to sleep, awakening the late lazy sleeper, serenading the Queen of all queens, mending broken hearts, and wowing the largest crowd.
He has traveled the Caribbean and beyond from an early age playing in school and other bands. Music is his passion and while there are some other unexplored fantasies, it was a love for his own that has kept him in the music industry. Today, André is part of a dynamic team of music teachers at the Elmore Stoutt High School. He hails from a family that surrounds themselves in the arts, with his father (now deceased) and mother, who is doing well in her late 70s, being great singers as well.
André Braithwaite is the last of five children for his parents Sydney and Doris Braithwaite. His eldest sibling is seventeen years his senior, the other fifteen years and twins nine years his senior. Being the baby of the family one would think “oh, he must be spoiled rotten” and possibly over protected, but that is far from the truth. "Guess you were a spoiled baby?" Mr Braithwaite responded, “well you would be very surprised when I tell you that that was never the case, I was not spoiled by my parents nor my siblings - they all had so many years over me so you could well imagine the discipline I had to face.”
His parents taught him from a very tender age that in life one has to work hard and earn whatever you want and because of that principle he was out working from the early age of nine. This did not in any way take precedence over his academic responsibilities. He shared the story of him pleading with his dad to purchase him a keyboard even though there was already a piano in their home which he had access to. “But you know the piano couldn’t do a lot of the things that the keyboard could, so I really wanted a key board to take my music to a higher level,” he told Virgin Island News Online.
With the understanding that he had to work to get the keyboard, his little hands and feet were out there in the world of work every holiday, including the summer break, Easter and Christmas doing whatever little odd jobs he could find until one day he had sufficient money to get him his keyboard.
In 1988, at the age of 11, he entered the BVI High School (now Elmore Stoutt High School) where he officially began his academics in music. His excellence in this field saw him participating in almost all of the school’s musical tours around the Caribbean.
After spending a short time at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), he went on to further his studies at Jacksonville University in the USA where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. His heart was always set on returning home to the Virgin Islands and giving back to the place where he attained his foundation. Despite being offered more than one really nice paying jobs in the USA, he chose to pass on those opportunities and headed right back home where he started his career in teaching at the Elmore Stoutt High School.
While he is well-versed in teaching all instruments, his primary instrument is the Trumpet. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he functions as the Band Director of the Elmore Stoutt High School Bands. “So I teach the Junior, Senior, and Jazz Bands - and we just brought back the Phoenix Band also so I conduct those groups while I am here at the high school,” he said.
Additionally, he conducts the Jazz Ensemble at the HLSCC. “So it’s pretty busy for me around here as far as music is concerned.” Braithwaite is also very active in the Road Town Methodist Church, being the Music Director for the Youth Choir and Praise and Worship Team. Under his umbrella also is a group called the Acappella Fellas. He is also the keyboardist and backup singer of the Blue Essence Band.
“So I am pretty busy from time to time and trying to balance that schedule with the responsibility of a family can be a bit of a challenge.” André is married to Kishann Cupid Braithwaite and has two adorable daughters, Kayla (age 6) and Amaya (age 1).
Besides music, André has a passion for a variety of sports and is involved in volleyball even at the national level. He has fun going to the beach, hanging out his friends whenever the opportunity presents itself, and spending quality time with his family. For him, spirituality is a key part of his life as he recognizes the importance of balance in the circle of life.
Talking about his icons in the music industry, Braithwaite has many, ranging from Stevie Wonder to Michael Jackson. “I think I have an icon or two for every genre of music - there are too many inspirational musicians and artists to just have one.”
His advice to youths was one of an unusual trend; he spoke about the importance of focusing on quality of life and love for people as opposed to the love of money and the constant pursuit of material things. “You have to look at life as a gift and you should use your time here to touch people’s lives in a positive way by being your best self and fulfilling the purpose God has for your life. You find that a lot of people spend an enormous amount of energy on activities that make them money. Making money is necessary, but what you do with your money is most important. What will your legacy be?"
Braithwaite added that persons need to understand that life is more than just making money, but being at peace with yourself and showing respect to each other.
Based on his observations, he noted that in today’s society "you have to lead by example so I try and be as humble as I possibly can. I try to lead by example and that is something our community should be keen about. One may accomplish many things in life but without humility one’s enlarged ego can distort reality and allow a person to believe that he/she is an island unto them self - we all need each other,” he said.
Our Young Professional for this week acknowledges that there will come a time when he will retire from music to chase after other dreams. When he graduated from high school in 1994, he was bestowed the Technical Drawing award and ventured out into the professional world of work in that area. Though the experience was short lived, it is one thing he would love to do later in life.
When all of that is said and done, he has his eyes fixed on travelling the world with his family to visit places like Italy, Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. “I would love to see theses places, explore their culture, and experience how different those places are from our Caribbean countries.”
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29 Responses to “This week we feature Young Professional André S. L. Braithwaite”
Thanks Mr.B for being there!! Tenor section always rocked!
Your words are a true inspiration.
Now though, I do so hope that the British Government sends help to you soon and that the next hurricanes will miss you. We're full of sadness.