Justin Lynch
Tanya Batson-Savage, Staff Reporter
ECLECTIC IS the best word to sum up Justin Lynch's pursuits.
The 24 year-old pianist is currently working toward a graduate degree in law. He already holds a Bachelor's in Music and International Relations.
As if that were not enough, the classical pianist took the time to study mixology, the art of being a disc jockey.
Justin started playing the piano when he was five years old and remembers his introduction to the instrument quite matter-of-factly.
"My mother had a piano in the house, and she basically just told me one day that I'd be starting piano lessons," he says.
His mother, Marguerite Lynch, remarks that playing either the violin or the piano is a family tradition.
She explained that at age five, Justin was introduced to the piano, but he was already interested in music.
Marguerite says that, as a toddler, he would crawl toward the instrument and await his grandfather's playing, almost as a signal that it was time to play.
Despite that, the early romance would not last. He was introduced to the piano while he was living in Miami.
Justin explained that he could not get along with his first piano tutor and so the lessons were terminated. The broken affair, between Justin and the piano would later resume when he was in London.
When he returned to Jamaica at age 12 a second reunion came via the violin.
Justin explained that he became interested in playing the violin when at age 12 he heard David Johns and Steven
Woodham play together at the School of Music. He began taking violin lessons with Woodham and later returned to the piano with Johns.
Back then he was balancing both instruments.
"I found it a little awkward to play the violin," Justin explained. He notes that the discomfort came because he had started playing the violin at such a late stage. At college, therefore, he began focusing on the piano.
MARRYING INTERESTS
Before selecting Boston University, Justin used the pre-university year at the Royal Academy of Music in England to explore whether he wanted to study music full-time. The result, was that his interests could not be satisfied by music alone.
Spurred by his interests in the Jamaican political dynamics he decided to pursue international relations and music at Boston University.
Now he studies law at the graduate level at Columbia University.
"I wouldn't characterise it as a switch," Justin says. "I guess I'm just pursuing another interest."
Additionally, he may focus on entertainment and arts law when the time comes which would further marry his interests.
Justin explains that he likes pursuing multiple interests simultaneously. "Right now I like the balance that I have with the music on the one hand and the law on the other," he says.
Not having a very narrow image of what constitutes music, and having an appreciation of popular styles, last summer Justin threw another element into the mix by taking two six week courses in mixology.
However, he notes that because he limits his involvement on the turntable, it does not "eat into his time" without his being a "willing participant".
He also points out that mixing is an expensive hobby as records are expensive. As yet, he notes that he does not have a wide enough selection to perform a paid gig.
IN PERFORMANCE
Justin will be performing with violinist Anna Brathwaite at the Jamaica School of Music at the Edna Manley College of the visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) next weekend.
The violin and piano recital will be the second time the two will be playing together locally.
Justin relates that he quite enjoys playing with other people as opposed to solo performances.
"Doing solo is actually quite lonely," he says. "I'm particularly looking forward to this one (concert) because both Anna and I really enjoy the pieces we'll be playing."
The two will be playing pieces from Brahms, Prokofiev, Franck and De Falla.
Justin admits that when he was younger he had dreams of playing on grand stages in the great concert halls.
"I'm not very good with long-term goals. I just like to toggle along and see where it takes me," he says. "Now I guess my focus is on defining my life based on how happy I am rather than what career goals I have."
And, between music, the law and life, he sees himself as very happy.
