Elca Maranzana sang her way from coast to coast across the United States last year, ending with a song at the Playboy Mansion.

The 24-year-old Bermudian?s accomplishments were all the more impressive given that she has had to overcome disabilities associated with autism, which she was born with.

But she has not allowed autism to hinder her success and now she boasts a classical repertoire that includes works by Brahms, Handel, Vivaldi and Puccini and sings in Italian, French, German and Latin.

Before she attended the Berkshire Hills Music Academy, in Massachusetts, she was unable to read music, but is currently learning and extending her repertoire to the sultry sounds of jazz.

Miss Maranzana sang ?Amazing Grace? at the Twelfth Annual Best Buddies Los Angeles Gala, that was held at the Playboy Mansion, in June, of this year.

Best Buddies is a non-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

The organisation was founded in 1989 by Anthony Shriver. It is a vibrant, international organisation that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,000 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. Miss Maranzana was given a Best Buddy when she began studying at the Academy.

?Whether it is having a friend to go to college with or someone to go for a coffee with,? Miss Maranzana said, of the organisation which has opened doors for her both socially and musically.

Miss Maranzana attends the Berkshire Hills Music Academy, a college which mainly plays host to young adults with ?Williams Syndrome?.

It is a rare disorder and like Down?s Syndrome and is caused by an abnormality in chromosomes. Many Williams Syndrome sufferers tend to be more musically gifted than the general population. To learn more visit www.williams-syndrome.org.

Over her time at the Academy her taste in music has expanded and she is now singing the blues and the soulful sounds of jazz.

?I don?t know what I?ll be doing next, but I?d love to pursue the jazz,? she said. ?I would love to get somewhere with it.?

Miss Maranzana said she was not phased when she was invited to sing at the Best Buddies gala fundraiser at the infamous Playboy Mansion earlier this summer.

?My father (Caesar Maranzana) thought that I was the kind of person that would be jumping for joy and it seemed like I wasn?t excited,? she said. ?But I am not the kind of person who would let it go to my head.

?I was a bit nervous because I didn?t know anybody.?

But while she did not know anyone, there were plenty of stars on hand at the mansion. While there Miss Maranzana rubbed shoulders with Hollywood film star Val Kilmer, although she was unable to see or speak to Hugh Hefner.

Miss Maranzana sang the American National Anthem at the Volvo Hyannis Port Challenge and the Volvo Hearst Castle Challenge, which are two of the country?s most spectacular cycling events, both benefiting Best Buddies International. The Volvo Hyannis Port Challenge is a 90-mile cycle ride from the JFK Library in Boston to the Kennedy Compound on Cape Cod.

She was offered the opportunity to sing on May 22, after she performed ?Amazing Grace? for one of her music instructors at school. She said: ?He recorded me singing Amazing Grace and gave it to a woman who came to the academy and she wanted me to sing it at Cape Cod.

?I had to get up at five-something in the morning to be ready to sing at 7 a.m. at the start of the race.?

Sandra Maranzana, said her daughter?s association with the school is inspiring her to pursue her natural musical inclinations.

?Most of the students at Elca?s school are jazz enthusiasts and she has bought a new element of music to the school,? said Mrs. Maranzana.

?She is bringing recognition to the school with her classical music, because none of them have been trained in that way.

?The school has only been in existence for a few years and it was begun by Kay Bernon, whose son has Williams Syndrome.

?The school is for students like Elca, who are musically talented, but cannot get into the mainstream schools.?

At the school, Miss Maranzana studies voice, piano and music appreciation and also travels around singing at different venues with the school.

While Miss Maranzana is a good vocalist, typically those with Williams Syndrome tend to be instrumentally talented, rather than vocally skilled.

?The school is very small and it has only 24 students,? said Miss Maranzana.

?Most of them have Williams or Down Syndrome, but they are very connected musically. They have perfect pitch and they all just sit down to instruments and play, although the ones with Williams Syndrome are not good vocalists. But as far as being musicians they have three brilliant drummers and most could get a job anywhere, although none of them read music.?

Elca?s musical talents seem to be awakening at the school, her mother said. Mrs. Maranzana said: ?Elca?s teacher believes that she can learn to read music and she has come a long way.?

Miss Maranzana?s aims to be a world-renowned operatic or jazz diva and she is looking forward taking every step she must to get there.

And next spring she is hoping her voice will secure her a place when she auditions as a classical singer with the world famous orchestra, Boston Pops.