The young life of Alexander Michael Gittens was a disciplined one. He was focused on school. He excelled in sports and music. He was a musical genius with musical arrangements that were rightfully awarded and recognized. He was a leader among his peers. His leadership qualities did not go unnoticed in his community. He was honored with numerous scholarships and awards. He even won a student’s grant from the Canadian-Jamaican organization of Canada. His superiority in his field won for him the right to represent his school and was given an award for best arrangement of an original score.



Even though young then, Alexander Michael Gittens engaged in business. He ventured into the baseball cards business with a friend. He sold ice cream sundaes around the neighborhood. His was an enterprising spirit. To top that, he was a cut above the rest of his peers and schoolmates in sports. He was into basketball, baseball, soccer and was coached senior girls’ basketball while in high school.

He even became a motivational speaker. Through speaking to people his age he was able to impart emotional, cognitive, or social forces that activate and direct the right behavior. He was with a contingent of “Athletics in Action" that went to European countries particularly Austria, Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic.

His musical genius was publically displayed at the age of 10 via his composition “Tweeleet" which he performed at a Toronto piano recital to a standing ovation. As an encore he performed Chariots of Fire, his own arrangement also to another standing ovation. But even before formal lessons, Alexander Michael Gittens was already playing with a toy piano. His musical prowess later on made him musical conductor of his high school Junior Band at their annual concert.

Being conductor became a double feat when he also accompanied the local Jazz Choir for great songs like “Summertime" and “Blue Sky". Still in secondary school he composed the original music for the Sears Drama Festival as the official entry of his school. This led to an award from Sears for his original score. Later on he was always at the board dinners and functions of the Durham Board of Education playing the piano. Today he still enjoys playing the piano for family gatherings and events.

His superior skill in music did not stop at the piano. Alexander Michael Gittens also played the trombone. But in 1992 his original arrangement of “It is Well With My Soul" won at the city, provincial and regional Youth convention. He won it again the following year at the Youth convention with his rendition of his own version “How Great Thou Art".

His musical prowess earned him accolades from his school, his community and his peers. He was well respected and admired. Alexander Michael Gittens was high limiting. He did not confine himself to one endeavor. He tried his hands in other sports, into business and made his community and school proud of him and his feats and achievements.

The discipline that he imposed on himself was worth emulating. The character and attitude that he possessed were enviable. He proved to be an exemplar for the youth thus as he became a speaker in youth gatherings to places he went to in Europe.

Alexander Michael Gittens was a smart businessman, a superior athlete, a genius of a piano performer and arranger, an inspiring speaker, a band conductor all rolled into one. He was class act all his own. It is indeed a very difficult act to follow.

"This article has been translated into English for the North America and UK audience."