Tot in tune
Bahrain-based Filipino expatriate couple Aileen and Brian Amado never imagined that a chance decision to enrol their son Brent for music classes during the Covid-19 pandemic would lead to him serenading an international audience someday, writes Melissa Nazareth.
The 10-year-old creative talent, who attends the Sacred Heart School Bahrain, has now been recognised for his musical achievements, alongside 100 other young achievers from diverse fields, across 130 countries worldwide.
Global Child Prodigy Awards 2025, a world-renowned platform celebrating the brightest young talents from across the globe, will honour the children in a ceremony on June 26 at the Member's Dining Room in the House of Commons, British Parliament, the UK.
'We're proud of Brent's achievement and his dedication toward music,' Aileen told GulfWeekly.
'During the pandemic, we couldn't go out. We decided to enrol Brent for music lessons, so he would have some activity to keep him engaged. A private tutor came home and taught him. He was just six and not really focused but his teacher observed that he was a fast learner. We were patient with him and let him learn at his pace. Eventually, he started liking it and hasn't looked back since.'
Last year, the multi-talented prodigy who also enjoys chess, swimming, art and Taekwondo, enthralled the audience at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York after winning third place at the American Protégé competition.
Brent's past awards include a bronze medal at the World Classical Music Awards (2022), a gold and bronze at the Gulf Musician Idol in 2022 and 2023 respectively, and a bronze and silver at the London Young Musician in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
'We started receiving invitations to enter international competitions and decided to apply,' Aileen revealed, and the rest, as they say, is history.
When Brent is not tickling the ivories, he is busy hitting the keys on his keyboard, playing Minecraft, or pursuing other hobbies.
'We want him to experience each discipline and then later on, he can do what he really wants,' Brian, who works with a luxury retail house, added.
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