Brian Lai - Webster Schroeder

When Brian Lei plays the piano, he goes deep. For those who love music, it's obvious.

"For me, I think music is a way of expressing some of the emotions and feelings you have that can't describe with words," said Brian, who just three months ago, 1st place in the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition. He has repeatedly earned top honors at the state and local festivals.

"I like the reaction of the audience when I play, because they connect with me on a musical level, instead of normal conversation. It's just a different level," said Brian.

Brian doesn't just play piano.. He plays cello too, not to mention guitar and bass. Webster Schroeder High School, he's a sort of renaissance man.

"Brian is a great musician, a great athlete, great scholar. He's mature and musical. He's one of those people who you give an assignment, and in the end you know it will be top notch," said music teacher Laura D'Angelo. "Rachmaninoff and Chopan, and he plays it with ease. Brian would be the last person to tell you all that he's done. He's just a great person and a great musician. I respect him in both ways."

Brian is actually keenly interested in engineering. He plans on studying that and music in college.

"I had an idea of making musical instruments, combining these skills," said Brian, who loves classical music, jazz, rock, ska and reggae. It all depends on his mood. He doesn't ever plan to give up playing, and that's his gift to people who get the privilege of listening.