Andrew Craig (BFA '93) was just a toddler when he picked up his first instrument. By the time he finished high school, he knew making music was his destiny.

The 29-year-old jazz musician has done it all - from writing television and radio jingles, to producing soundtracks for indie films and performing for Nelson Mandela when he visited Toronto. Craig arranged the music for the 400 children in the choir.

Craig says it was York's reputation for learning that drew him to the University. "The school was great because it gave me a broad-based education and the freedom to do whatever I wanted."

Somehow, while he was a full-time student, he also found time to establish Colour of Soul, his funk jazz quartet, direct the York Jazz Choir, and be president of York's Creative Arts Students Association.

After graduating, Craig played keyboards for 1997 Juno R&B winner Carlos Morgan. It was during this time he received an opportunity to fly around the world as music director for Celtic fiddler Ashley MacIssac. One day Craig got a phone call from MacIssac's manager. "The next thing I knew I was leaving on a 'seven-week' tour that turned out to be a couple of years."

The plane had just touched down in Canada when he was asked to help a children's choir prepare for Mandela's visit. "I was so busy I felt as though I hadn't slept for an entire year," he says.

His latest project is a compilation CD-set of funk, gospel, traditional jazz and contemporary jazz tunes.

Photo: Nadia Molinari