Zachary Allen | Culture

From a young age I’ve always loved music. Some of my earliest memories include singing

and playing the recorder for many of my church’s Christmas programmes and Easter

services. Attending Marie Martin Primary School at the time, my mom recognised my

talent for music and enrolled me in a music programme through the school. In Year 5, I

was then called to the Principal’s Office, a room filed with stringed instruments. The cello

picked me that day, marking the official start of my music journey.

All of my National Children's Festival of the Arts (NCFA) cello performances were either

Gold or Silver Awards. I’ve also represented Cayman on many trips, including in Cuba,

where I toured two conservatories as part of a group, Luzerne Music Centre. There I

played in an orchestra for the first time. Most recently, I visited Boston, Massachusetts,

where I apprenticed under luthiers for three weeks. I was also given the Music Award in

GCSE when I graduated high school, and I’ve taken part in many cello exams, all which

I’ve passed with either distinctions or merits.

I am a cello teacher and luthier for the Cayman Arts Festival, and God willing I hope to

start my bachelor’s degree in Primary Education at the University College of the Cayman

Islands (UCCI) later this year to work towards becoming a music teacher. I also hope to

find ways to teach what I’m continuing to learn in Luthiery; to make the service more

accessible to Cayman and in doing so, to spark interest in the trade of instrument repair

(not just classical string instruments). This will make Cayman’s music scene more self sustaining and attractive.

I am a devout Christian and serve as Pianist, Trainee Treasurer and Assistant Sunday

School Teacher for the Church of God at Breakers. Thus, my goal is not only to spread the

joy of music, but to also inspire others to be who God wants them to be.