His favourite Power Ranger is red, his favourite breakfast is scrambled eggs and bacon, and his favourite friend is Sonny.

If that sounds perfectly normal for a five-year-old boy, that's precisely what Benjamin Leung is.

But he is also an exceptionally gifted child -- his mother, Dr. Benita Tse-Leung, shrinks from the term "prodigy'' -- who gave his first public piano recital at age four.

"He also took part in a local competition at the same age, and won in the beginners' category. Over 100 other children competed -- most of them aged ten,'' she explains.

Born on August 4, 1994 in Dayton, Ohio, the adorable little boy was immediately inducted into the world of classical music, since both of his parents, who hold doctorates in music, are not only accomplished concert duo pianists, but also teach at Wright State University in Cincinnati.

While many pre-schoolers respond haphazardly to music, Benjamin's parents noticed that their son took an unusually keen interest in listening -- their first clue that he was special.

"He enjoys listening to music so much, and when he hears it he wants to play,'' father Dr. Jackson Leung relates.

With two professional teachers and three pianos -- two of them Steinway concert grands -- in the Leung household, it naturally follows that Benjamin has a ready source of instruction and choice of instruments on which to play, and he is proving an apt student.

Because she works part time at the university, and teaches from home, Dr.

Tse-Leung takes responsibility for her son's piano instruction, which is pleasantly incorporated into his daily practice sessions.

"And sometimes when I am playing piano I get a treat,'' the little student beams.

Just how fine a job Dr. Tse-Leung is doing was immediately apparent to those who heard Benjamin's astonishing performance with his mother in last Sunday's duo piano recital at the Bermuda Cathedral, when they played Lynn Freeman Olson's Celebration Concerto on separate instruments.

"It was Benita's idea for him to learn this difficult piece,'' Dr. Leung relates. "It is quite complicated with passages in different keys, but he did it.'' Certainly, the piece would represent a challenge for anyone, but Benjamin's tiny fingers travelled the keys with complete assurance as he performed in perfect sync with his mother -- and all from memory.

How, one wonders, does a child of that age, even a gifted one, commit to memory such a complex work? "He learned it in sections over three months,'' Dr. Tse-Leung explained.

Benjamin happily practises for an hour a day, and like any typical five-year-old, makes spur of the moment decisions -- including which piano he will use.

"The baby grand is in another room, and when we were preparing for the Bermuda concert, I said to him, `You go in the other room to practice, Benji', and he replied, `No, you go in the other room!'' Dr. Tse-Leung laughs.

While his talent is huge, Benjamin takes it all in stride, and is quick to brush aside the oohs and ahhs of awe-struck adults.

"I am five and I am not really a pianist, I am a student,'' he says proudly.

The little boy also doesn't take too kindly to adults dragging out photo calls, during which he is repeatedly asked to play the piano for yet another shot. With touching honesty, he politely announces: "I don't want to play. I want to go to the beach.'' In addition to his musical studies, which now include "a little bit of theory along the way'' and teaching him to read music, Benjamin's regular education is being received through a home schooling programme, again taught by Dr.

Tse-Leung.

Mathematics is a favourite subject, and when his mother asks him a series of questions relating to multiplication tables which would challenge an older child, Benjamin comes back with perfect answers every time.

Yet for all his intelligence, he is neither precocious nor pretentious.

Certainly, his parents are patently proud of him, and nurture him with love, but he is neither spoiled nor cosseted, despite the fact that, as a family, they lead unusual lives.

As concert artists, Dr. Leung and his wife, travel extensively, taking Benjamin with them.

"He loves to travel, and has been to Hong Kong four times already, as well as to Malaysia, Singapore and London,'' Dr. Leung smiles. "15 to 20-hour flights don't bother him at all.'' When he appears in concert, he has his own formal attire: a black tuxedo with bow tie and patent shoes -- and his perfectly cut black hair is impeccably tamed.

In addition to English, Benjamin speaks fluent Cantonese and also writes it, and he loves to eat just about anything -- although some of his preferences are perhaps unusual esoteric for a child of his age.

"He loves broccoli and cauliflower, as well as shrimps and sushi,'' Dr. Leung laughs.

"And I like French fries and pizza,'' Benjamin adds, "and ice cream.'' He is particularly happy when Dad cooks his favourite breakfast of bacon and eggs.

A typical boy in other respects, his favourite playtime activities include riding around the driveway of his Cincinnati home on his miniature, engine-driven Police motorcycle, as well as brandishing his laser sword, the related sound effects of both of which he demonstrates with obvious pleasure.

Benjamin attends Sunday School at the Cincinnati Chinese Church, where he meets his favourite friend Sonny.

"We play slides in the night,'' he says of visits to Sonny's house.

Benjamin also sings in his church choir, and is its youngest member.

The family cats, Bambi and Phoebe, are a source of great affection, and his eyes light up as he relates their details.

"They are black with white bits,'' he says. "Phoebe sleeps in my room, and Bambi sleeps on my mother's bed.'' Benjamin's favourite colour is red, and he is very particular about his wardrobe, which includes a baseball camp given to him by a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman.

"He likes nice clothes, and doesn't wear just anything,'' Dr. Tse-Leung admits. "He is also very clean and doesn't let anything get on his clothes.

If something soils them, he insists on changing.'' Listening to this revelation, Benjamin announces: "I am not clean, I am a a boy.'' At five, that is how his world is -- a charming mixture of incredible talent, keen intelligence, laser swords and sushi, singing and Sunday school, cats, clothes and Cantonese.

When asked what the multi-talented Benjamin is best at, both parents laughingly respond in unison: "Mischief!'' Musical family: Benjamin with his mother, Dr. Benita Tse-Leung and father Dr.

Jackson Leung.