Rashaan Allwood
Rashaan Allwood, 18, has won medals at every level of piano exams since 2002. In January he surprised even himself when he scored a perfect 100 points in the world-renowned Association of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto diploma. He was the top student in Canada.
The hour-long exam consisted of baroque, classical, romantic, impressionist and 20th Century music. Rashaan lives in Mississauga with his brother Yannick and their parents Fillmore and Joyce who are originally from Jamaica. He attends the University of Toronto on a full scholarship and hopes to become a concert pianist and music teacher. His brother studies piano performance and actuarial science at Western University. Both brothers played the role of young Simba in the Mirvish production of The Lion King. Rashaan also has a jazz band that plays at many community events. A school in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica has been the recipient of money from Rashaan, who contributes to the repairs needed at the school from the money he earned from his many awards. His father says he believes strong parenting and community service go a long way towards keeping kids on the right path.
